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above MSL, which renders the porous borders vulnerable to several external and internal threats including insurgency, cross border smuggling and infiltration. In 2019- 20, DRI had effected 120 seizures of gold, narcotics, cigarettes etc valued at Rs.246 Crores which were smuggled through the NER.
Myanmar plays a significant role because of its geo strategic location as a gateway to the East and also its own socio-political conditions in the neighbouring areas. The country shares 1743 km border with India. The India Myanmar Border (IMB) is unfenced. The Free Movement Regime (FMR) is a goodwill measure implemented by both the countries considering the fact that people of same tribe and ethnicity reside along both sides of the border with family and marital relations till date. The citizens of both countries can travel across the border up to 16 km following prescribed rules. Thus, FMR mechanism combined
with the strong bonds among the people residing on both sides has made the border porous and prone to smuggling. The Longwa village, which lies partially in Nagaland and Myanmar, is a classic example. The propensity for smuggling is especially high in the states of Manipur and Mizoram owing to factors like historical routes, reduced insurgency et al. Considering the geo-strategic location and the presence of China and other South East Asian countries on either side, Myanmar has positioned itself as a transit corridor for movement of goods of all sorts between two major global markets and production centres. Though smuggling happens across the IMB, most of the smuggled goods have their origin in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China. The goods destined for rest of India comprises mostly of restricted and prohibited goods of high value like gold, precious stones, foreign cigarettes, drugs and wildlife.
Longwa Village, Nagaland, part of which lies in Myanmar
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