India&rsquo;s northeastern frontier is facing an escalating threat as Myanmar&rsquo;s powerful drug cartels flood the region with synthetic narcotics worth an estimated Rs 1.5 lakh crore annually. Intelligence agencies warn that nearly 90 percent of synthetic drugs entering India originate from Myanmar, with cartels backed by armed militias exploiting porous borders and conflict-hit zones.
The highly addictive Yaba tablets, bought for as little as Rs 10 in Myanmar, fetch up to Rs 1,200 in Indian markets. Alongside Yaba, methamphetamine and fentanyl are being trafficked in unprecedented quantities. Cartels are capitalising on Myanmar&rsquo;s internal turmoil, using refugee flows and treacherous terrain to mask smuggling operations.
Mizoram&rsquo;s 500-kilometre border, dotted with dense forests, rivers, and remote villages like Champhai and Zokhawthar, has become the main entry point. From here, consignments are routed to Assam and onward to domestic and international markets. Investigations reveal deep ties between traffickers and armed groups such as the Chin National Army, United Wa State Army, Shan State Army, and People&rsquo;s Militia Forces. These alliances ensure secure passage of drug shipments through guarded tunnels and remote mountain routes.
The methamphetamine trade alone, controlled largely by the United Wa State Army, is valued at over Rs 1.5 lakh crore a year. Heroin production, driven by other armed factions, fuels further instability, with profits used to purchase weapons. The United Nations has noted a record surge in meth seizures across East and Southeast Asia, with 236 tons seized in 2024, a 24 percent rise from the previous year, though the actual volume reaching the streets is believed to be far greater.
For India, the fallout is severe. Insurgent outfits in the Northeast reportedly benefit from cartel funds, enabling them to finance militancy. With India sharing both land and maritime borders with Myanmar, the crisis has evolved into a direct national security challenge. Security agencies are intensifying surveillance and crackdowns, but the combination of armed protection, complex smuggling routes, and global demand has made the fight against this illicit trade an uphill battle.

Myanmar’s Drug Cartels Fuel India’s Meth Crisis

Armed groups push Rs 1.5 lakh crore meth trade into India via porous Mizoram border

Myanmar’s Drug Cartels Fuel India’s Meth Crisis

Armed groups push Rs 1.5 lakh crore meth trade into India via porous Mizoram border

August 10, 2025 | 15:16 IST