Raipur Commissionerate Police arrested 82 people facing permanent warrants and seized contraband, weapons and other material worth around Rs 17.30 lakh during a week-long enforcement drive under Operation Vishwas.

The campaign was conducted across the North, West and Central zones of Raipur from August 24 to 30, with police teams focusing on wanted persons, illegal liquor, narcotics, weapons and other activities linked to crime and public disorder.

According to the information released about the operation, police registered 167 cases under the Excise Act and took action against 167 accused. Enforcement was also carried out in 203 cases under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 211 cases under Sections 126/135 of the BNS.

82 permanent warrant accused arrested

One of the major outcomes of the campaign was the arrest of 82 people against whom permanent warrants were pending. Police also conducted checks of known offenders, including habitual criminals, listed goons and surveillance-listed individuals.

Authorities said the exercise was aimed at identifying people involved in criminal activities and preventing repeat offences through intensified field-level monitoring.

60 kg-plus cannabis seized

The campaign also resulted in significant seizures of narcotics and other prohibited substances.

Police recovered 60.339 kg of cannabis, 1,590 banned intoxicant tablets and 10.59 grams of heroin, besides 273 pouches of country-made liquor.

The West Zone recorded the largest narcotics-related seizure during the drive. Police also seized three mobile phones and a Scorpio vehicle in connection with the action.

20 knives and sharp weapons recovered

Raipur police also intensified checks against people carrying knives and other sharp-edged weapons in public places.

A total of 20 cases were registered under the Arms Act, with 20 accused facing action. Police recovered 20 knives and other sharp weapons during these operations.

Of the weapons seized, 12 were recovered in the West Zone, while six were seized in the Central Zone and two in the North Zone.

Checks on habitual offenders

As part of Operation Vishwas, police teams also verified the activities and whereabouts of known offenders.

In the North Zone alone, 62 listed goons and 32 surveillance-listed offenders were checked. The exercise was intended to keep track of people considered vulnerable to involvement in further criminal activity.

The police said such verification and enforcement measures are part of efforts to strengthen preventive policing across the commissionerate.

Campaign to continue

The week-long operation brought together action against wanted persons, illegal liquor, narcotics and illegal weapons under a coordinated enforcement drive.

Police officials said Operation Vishwas will continue, with further action planned against criminals and individuals involved in anti-social activities in the Raipur Commissionerate area.

The latest campaign comes amid increased focus on preventive policing and enforcement against repeat offenders, particularly through warrant execution, surveillance and checks in areas considered vulnerable to criminal activity.

Nearly 4,000 kg of synthetic drugs, mostly methamphetamine sold as "Ice," have been seized in Mizoram's Champhai district over the last three years, exposing the northeastern state's growing role as a trafficking hub fed by its porous border with Myanmar.

Night Patrols Reflect Crisis Scale

In Aizawl, volunteers from the Young Mizo Association (YMA) now conduct nightly patrols, walking the city's streets armed with torches and wooden sticks to keep watch for drug peddlers targeting young people. Officials say the state is facing its worst-ever drug crisis, with the 500-kilometre unfenced border with Myanmar serving as an easy conduit for narcotics smuggling.

According to official data, drug abuse claimed 118 lives in Mizoram last year, while 21 deaths have already been recorded so far this year. Champhai, which directly borders Myanmar, has become the primary transit corridor, with traffickers exploiting the rugged terrain and ethnic ties that span both sides of the international boundary.

Drugs Sold Through Encrypted Chat Groups

Investigators say the trade has shifted almost entirely online. Suppliers operate through closed groups on WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook, and buyers reportedly only need to show a screenshot of group membership to access drugs. Peter Johmingthanga, Joint Commissioner of the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department, said dealers use coded terms such as "ice" and "candy" to evade detection on these platforms.

Home delivery of narcotics has also become common in recent months, according to local social workers. Aizawl-based social worker Elin Lalawmpuii said that between April 10 and May 28 this year, she personally recorded 239 patients in Aizawl alone who had fallen victim to synthetic drugs — a number officials describe as alarming given the short timeframe. Most of these individuals previously used alcohol or marijuana but have since moved to harder synthetic substances.

Border Villages Become Smuggling Gateways

Ground visits to Champhai revealed how small-time carriers move drug consignments across forested and mountainous terrain under cover of darkness. Myanmar's Rihkhawdar area, located directly across the border, has emerged as a key staging point, with family ties between communities on both sides reportedly being exploited to facilitate movement of consignments. From Mizoram, the drugs are then routed onward to other parts of India, as well as to Bangladesh and Gulf countries, sources said.

Community-Led 'Operation Jericho' Pushes Back

With government enforcement stretched thin, civil society has stepped in. The YMA, which has around five lakh volunteers across the state, launched "Operation Jericho" in September last year in coordination with police and the narcotics department. The initiative, rooted in the Mizo tradition of "Tlawmngaihna" or selfless community service, has deployed volunteers in 13 sensitive villages across Champhai district.

Officials associated with the operation said that whenever intelligence inputs are received, joint raids are conducted with police, with victims being identified and referred to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres rather than simply being treated as offenders.

Traffickers Shift to Manipur Route

YMA's Central President R. Lalnghetha said that as Operation Jericho began disrupting traditional smuggling channels in Champhai, traffickers adapted by rerouting consignments through Manipur. Drugs are now reportedly entering India from Myanmar via Manipur before being transported onward to Mizoram and other states, indicating that the trafficking network remains agile despite increased enforcement pressure.

Road Ahead

With seizure volumes mounting and fatality numbers rising, authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen border surveillance along the Mizoram-Myanmar frontier. Community-driven initiatives like Operation Jericho have shown early results, but officials acknowledge that sustained coordination between civil society, police and narcotics enforcement will be critical to countering the shifting trafficking routes and the growing digital footprint of the drug trade in the region.