AIZAWL: Majority of children who were booked for criminal acts by the district juvenile justice board in Champhai district on the Mizoram-Myanmar border were being used by adults in drug trafficking, district officials said on Monday.
Champhai district child protection officers said 30 cases were registered by the district juvenile justice board and the district child welfare committee during this year, of which a high majority of juveniles were booked for being used in drug trafficking by adults, including their relatives.
The officers said 11 cases out of 14 registered by the district juvenile justice board were against those minors who were used as drug mules to facilitate trafficking in the border areas.
A senior excise and narcotics department official said two underage boys were used by their father who sent them in a Chinese-made Kenbo bike to Mizoram to see if the coast was clear for smuggling drugs. The boys as well as their father were arrested after the officials discreetly followed them.
Police officials also said the boys aged between 13 and 17 were used by drug traffickers to carry heroin or methamphetamine from the Myanmar border to Mizoram, thinking that they would not arouse suspicion of the law enforcement officials.
A recent study also said middle school/upper primary school students were introduced to heroin by drug pushers in Champhai district as drug supply was higher than demand.
The price of heroin and methamphetamine has come down considerably due to massive increase in drug trafficking after the military coup in Myanmar in early February last year which resulted in the absence of efficient administration in that country, especially in Chin state adjoining Mizoram as well as influx of refugees.
An official said children were used by their parents to buy local liquor or Myanmar-made liquor called BEDC and sell them to drinkers, knowing that minors would not be severely punished by the authorities.
Champhai district child protection officers said 30 cases were registered by the district juvenile justice board and the district child welfare committee during this year, of which a high majority of juveniles were booked for being used in drug trafficking by adults, including their relatives.
The officers said 11 cases out of 14 registered by the district juvenile justice board were against those minors who were used as drug mules to facilitate trafficking in the border areas.
A senior excise and narcotics department official said two underage boys were used by their father who sent them in a Chinese-made Kenbo bike to Mizoram to see if the coast was clear for smuggling drugs. The boys as well as their father were arrested after the officials discreetly followed them.
Police officials also said the boys aged between 13 and 17 were used by drug traffickers to carry heroin or methamphetamine from the Myanmar border to Mizoram, thinking that they would not arouse suspicion of the law enforcement officials.
A recent study also said middle school/upper primary school students were introduced to heroin by drug pushers in Champhai district as drug supply was higher than demand.
The price of heroin and methamphetamine has come down considerably due to massive increase in drug trafficking after the military coup in Myanmar in early February last year which resulted in the absence of efficient administration in that country, especially in Chin state adjoining Mizoram as well as influx of refugees.
An official said children were used by their parents to buy local liquor or Myanmar-made liquor called BEDC and sell them to drinkers, knowing that minors would not be severely punished by the authorities.