Aizawl, August 25: The Mizoram Police have reported that 460 foreign nationals, including 439 Myanmarese, were arrested in the state for various crimes over the last five years up to May 2025.

Police data revealed that during this period, narcotic substances worth Rs 770.95 crore — including heroin, methamphetamine, crystal meth and cannabis — were seized by the state police alone.

A total of 15,673 people were arrested in different criminal cases during the same span, comprising 14,432 locals, 781 from other states, and 460 foreigners.

“As many as 460 foreign nationals have also been arrested for different crimes, including drugs and arms trafficking, child sexual abuse, forgery, burglary, theft and violation of visa norms,” the police report stated.

Among these, 439 were from Myanmar, 18 from Bangladesh, and three from other countries. The highest arrests were recorded in 2022 – a year after the Myanmar military coup – when 124 foreigners were caught, followed by 106 in 2023, and 89 in 2024. In the first five months of 2025 alone, 57 foreigners, including 53 Myanmarese, were apprehended.

Of the 15,673 people arrested overall, 1,666 were booked for smuggling narcotics, 254 under the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, while theft and burglary remained the biggest offences with 5,495 and 4,686 cases respectively.

The data further showed 1,694 people were arrested under the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, which bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the state.

Among the arrested Myanmar nationals, 185 were held for drug smuggling, 66 for visa norm violations, 43 for arms and explosives smuggling, 40 for theft and burglary, while nine each were booked for murder and child sexual abuse.

Barring four Bangladeshi nationals arrested under the Arms and Explosives Act, most foreigners were booked under the Foreigners Act.

Mizoram has been grappling with a rising influx of narcotics from Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar. Police records highlighted a sharp increase in seizures in recent years: drugs worth Rs 43.43 crore in 2022, Rs 189.66 crore in 2023, and Rs 211.63 crore in 2024. Between January and May 2025 alone, narcotics valued at Rs 106.56 crore were seized.

Earlier figures stood at Rs 167.82 crore in 2020 and Rs 51.83 crore in 2021, showing the alarming escalation of the drug menace.