Aizawl, Nov 20: Smuggling of drugs and Burmese areca nuts from Myanmar into Mizoram has witnessed a significant decline following intensified security measures along the international border, Chief Minister Lalduhoma was informed during a review meeting on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting to review the activities of the Home Department and the Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department. Officials from the Home Department reported that 12 police stations and 10 duty posts manned by the Assam Rifles are currently operating along the 510-km-long Mizoram-Myanmar border.The officials said that the coordinated efforts of these forces have led to a steady reduction in drug trafficking and the smuggling of illegal areca nuts.

The statement further noted that preparations are underway to construct border haats, with the first one, as directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to be established at Zote in Champhai district of eastern Mizoram.

Under the Free Movement Regime (FMR), authorities have issued border passes to 21,238 people for cross-border movement since October, the statement added.Officials also informed the meeting that the next round of talks between Mizoram and Assam to resolve the inter-state border dispute is being scheduled shortly.