Manipur Security Forces Launch Major Crackdown, Destroy 10 Acres of Poppy Fields and Bust Drug Networks

In a major anti-drug and anti-poppy crackdown across Manipur, security forces launched coordinated operations leading to multiple arrests, significant drug seizures, and the destruction of large illegal poppy plantations in hill districts.

Security forces apprehended several individuals in Imphal East linked to underground groups as well as drug distribution networks operating across the valley. Three drug dealers from Hatta Golapati were arrested by a Porompat Police Station team in connection with an NDPS case earlier registered at Tengnoupal Police Station. Police described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in targeting networks involved in the local distribution of narcotics, including brown sugar.

During the operation, authorities seized a substantial quantity of items suspected to be used in drug processing and distribution. The recovery included Rs 2 lakh in cash, 91 empty bottles commonly used to store brown sugar, several empty containers, personal identification documents, two smartphones, a bank passbook, and a driving license. Police said the seized materials indicate active involvement in the illegal drug trade and could provide leads into a wider trafficking network.

Security forces also nabbed an individual from Assam at Phikomei Junction under Mao Police Station in Senapati district on November 20, after he was found carrying a large quantity of contraband. The suspect was transporting 5.7 kg of WY tablets, or 'World is Yours,' a synthetic drug commonly smuggled through the Indo-Myanmar route. A four-wheeler, mobile phone, debit card, and cash were seized. Police described the arrest as a key breakthrough in intercepting inter-state drug trafficking networks linking Manipur to other parts of the Northeast.

Meanwhile, acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF destroyed 10 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the interior areas of Songlung village in Kangpokpi district on Wednesday. The operation, conducted deep in hill terrain, uncovered three separate cultivation sites spread across the village outskirts.

Security forces burned down the poppy fields, along with three farm huts used for storage of cultivation materials. Tools, containers, and items associated with the cultivation of opium poppy were also destroyed on the spot to prevent re-use. Officials involved in the operation stated that such large-scale poppy destruction is crucial in dismantling the supply chain of heroin production, which continues to fuel drug dependency in the state.

The surge in poppy cultivation in certain hill districts remains a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies. Authorities believe that profits from illegal opium cultivation continue to attract influential networks and often intersect with other forms of organized crime, including trafficking and extortion. Wednesday's destruction drive marks one of the largest poppy eradication efforts in recent months.

Alongside anti-drug actions, security forces also arrested several individuals associated with underground groups in separate operations across Imphal East and Bishnupur. The arrested individuals were reportedly involved in extortion activities targeting the general public. While these arrests are separate from the drug-related cases, officials said all actions form part of a broader crackdown aimed at restoring stability and reducing criminal networks that often overlap with drug trafficking routes.

Police said intensified anti-drug campaigns, coupled with sustained poppy eradication drives, will continue in the coming weeks. With Manipur's drug problem increasingly linked to cross-border trafficking and local cultivation in remote hill areas, authorities emphasised the need for continued coordination between state and central forces, along with community cooperation.

Security forces reiterated their commitment to combating the drug menace and urged the public to support ongoing efforts by reporting any suspicious activities related to narcotics or illegal plantations. The latest operations, stretching from Mao to Songlung and across the Imphal valley, mark a renewed push in the state's war on drugs, signaling stronger action against both illicit cultivation and trafficking networks.