Guwahati, October 23: Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), has warned that Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh are emerging as the “New Golden Triangle” for drug trafficking, urging Indian authorities to remain vigilant against the alleged involvement of Bangladesh’s Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) in the illegal trade.
Chakma highlighted the growing threat posed by the PCJSS, whose supremo, Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma (Santu Larma), heads the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council under Bangladesh’s interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He cautioned that ignoring the group’s alleged role in drug smuggling and other illegal activities would be perilous for the region, including states like Mizoram and Tripura.
“The main risks from these failed states include terrorism, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. While the infamous Golden Triangle in Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar is now a historical reference, Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh have effectively become the New Golden Triangle,” Chakma said. He also noted that foreign armed groups’ involvement in drug trafficking in India poses a serious national security threat.
Recent reports indicate the continued involvement of PCJSS in smuggling. On October 18, 2025, Bangladeshi security forces seized 150 cartons of Burmese cigarettes, 90 bottles of country liquor, and two pistols linked to the outfit. Earlier, in June 2025, the Assam Rifles recovered narcotics worth Rs 10 crore allegedly linked to the group in Lunglei, Mizoram.
Chakma also pointed to a worrying increase in drug-related cases among members of the Chakma community in Mizoram, with at least six cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Lunglei District and Sessions Court since 2024. He added that direct links between accused couriers and the PCJSS are often difficult to establish, as many couriers are unaware of the cartels they serve.
Mizoram and Tripura, he warned, are “flooded with drugs” and struggling to contain the crisis. Between January and September 2025, Mizoram’s Excise and Narcotics Department registered 87 cases and arrested 112 individuals in Champhai district alone.
“Drugs kill without discrimination, destroying the youth — the future of our country,” Chakma stated. “India cannot afford to deal with smuggling by foreign armed groups like the PCJSS through routine approaches; a stronger, coordinated response is essential.”
The RRAG director’s warning comes amid growing concerns over cross-border narcotics networks and their impact on the Northeast’s security, social fabric, and public health.
