Aizawl, March 6 -- Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar on Tuesday said the number of drug trafficking into the state has soared due to the ongoing ethnic violence in neighbouring Manipur.

Replying to a question in the ongoing budget session on Tuesday, Hmar said that the number of drug seizures in Mizoram has considerably increased since the ethnic violence as drugs are being smuggled into Manipur and Tripura via Mizoram from other countries.

He said that drug circulation or consumption at the local level has significantly come down following a massive anti-drug drive launched by the government, churches and civil society organisations.

According to Hmar, the state Excise and Narcotics department alone has so far s...