Agartala: The Tripura government is keeping a sharp eye on narcotics smuggling from Myanmar into the Northeast via Mizoram and Tripura, chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said here on Monday.

In his discussion on a reference period notice moved by the treasury bench chief whip Kalyani Roy on the state government's fight against addiction, Deb said his government was committed to fulfilling its poll assurance of building an "addiction-free" Tripura.

"Over 12,000kg cannabis was seized in last three months since the BJP-IPFT government assumed office on March 9. Only 5,338.9kg cannabis was seized in two years since 2016," Deb said.

The chief minister criticised the erstwhile Left Front government over widespread business of cannabis, banned pharmaceutical drugs and other contraband.

"From my understanding of running a government for three months, I think the illegal drug trade business can't thrive without cooperation from the government," Deb said. He also said crimes against women increased due to the high participation of youths in the illegal drug trade.

Majlishpur MLA Sushanta Chowdhury added in a point of order that drug peddlers used the route from Myanmar to the Northeast via Mamit district of Mizoram and Damcherra in North Tripura district. He sought steps from the government to curb the drug menace.

"These drugs mostly comprise high-end sophisticated products like heroin, brown sugar and other drugs which are taken intravenously. Due to injectable drugs, the rate of HIV patients in North Tripura is increasing by leaps and bounds," he said.

In his reply, Deb said his government asked the police and other enforcement agencies to keep a sharp eye on drug smuggling across the border. He admitted North Tripura was being used to peddle drugs but said the government has asked to take strict action against such people.

Several drug peddlers were arrested since March, Deb said. "Altogether 97 persons found involved with drugs and the cannabis trade were arrested in last three months and 117 cases were registered. Over 50,000 bottles of banned pharmaceutical drugs, 27 vehicles used to transport them were seized and over Rs 4 lakh fine was realized. But only 127 persons were arrested over two years since 2016," the chief minister said.