Over 15 kilogram of heroin was seized by Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department, while 493 people have been arrested in drug related cases during this year, an official said on Sunday.ย 

Excise and Narcotics department spokesperson Peterย Zohmingthangaย said 15.420 kilogram of heroin was seized during January to October this year and the quantum of heroin seizure increased by each year.ย ย 

Quoting the department’s record, he said a total of 39.72 kilogram of heroin was seized duringย three yearsย from January 2019 to October 2021.

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12.59 kilogram of heroin was seized in 2019 and 11.71 in 2020, he said.

Besides, 612 kilogram ofย ganjaย (cannabis) was seized during three years (2019 – October 2021),ย mathamphetamineย tablets (210.87 kg), opium (2 kg), Pseudoephedrine tablets (9 kg), Alprazolam tablets (12.62 kg) andย Dextroproproxypheneย tablets (25 kg), he said.ย 

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At least 2,120 people were arrested and 1,572 cases registered in connection with drugs during the same period, he said.ย 

493 people were arrested between January to October this year, 574 in 2020ย ansย 1,053 in 2019, he said.ย 

According to the official, a total of 1,688 peopleย hasย died due to drug abuseย since 1984ย to 15 November 2021.ย 

Of 1,688 people, 340 died of heroin, 1, 161 died due toย Dextroproproxypheneย and 187 died due to other drugs, he said.ย 

He said that the number of current users ofย opiadsย (opium substances) is extremely high among drug users, which tagged at 25.67 per cent against the national average of 2 per cent.ย 

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The number of people using injected drugs in the state now is estimated to be about 28,288 against the national’s data of 8,54,296, he said.ย 

Zohmingthangaย added that about 90 per cent of the accused (arrested people) were convicted.ย