Aizawl, March 17, 2026: Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga has said that the government may extend the ongoing anti-drug campaign, “Operation Jericho” beyond its March deadline, officials said. Operation Jericho was launched jointly by the state police, Excise department and Young Mizo Association (YMA) on 1 September 2025 to curb drug trafficking across the borders. Initially slated for four months till December, the campaign has been extended till March this year.
The Home Minister conducted a high-level security assessment of Mizoram’s southern border and visited the India-Myanmar border at Zochachhuah in Lawngtlai district on Saturday, they said. He inspected Assam Rifles outpost and surveyed designated Mizoram police land and directed Lawngtlai Deputy Commissioner to expedite the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of a permanent Mizoram police check post on the site. Highlighting the need for a more robust monitoring system, Sapdanga emphasized that the state must move quickly to document all cross-border movements.
“The Mizoram government requires a dedicated system to meticulously track individuals crossing the border,” the Home Minister said. Addressing grievances from local residents and security personnel regarding poor connectivity, the Minister acknowledged that inadequate internet service is currently hampering the submission of border transit reports. He assured the public that plans for new mobile network towers are in progress and pledged to fast-track their installation. Later in the day, Sapdanga also convened a meeting with officials and prominent NGOs in Siaha to review the progress of Operation Jericho, the state’s aggressive crackdown on narcotics. Sapdanga revealed that while the operation was initially slated to end in December last year, the evolving security situation necessitated an extension.
“We have already extended the operation until the end of March, and we are prepared to extend it further as the situation demands,” he said.
“By collaborating with local NGOs and deploying police personnel at key transit points, we have successfully disrupted the supply chain, particularly from the eastern borders,” he added.
Sapdanga also noted that the intensified operations have led to a sharp increase in the street price of heroin, suggesting a significant squeeze on the illicit market. However, he warned against complacency.
“This is a battle for the survival of our youth. We require the collective strength of government machinery and civil society. No one is safe from this menace, and we cannot afford to lower our guard,” he added. Mizoram shares a 510-km long border with Myanmar and most drug supply came from the neighbouring country. (Source: Prasar Bharati Shabd)
