Imphal, July 23 — Security forces in Manipur have arrested five alleged drug peddlers, including a suspected key narcotics supplier and a woman, in separate anti-drug operations, while seizing substantial quantities of Myanmar-origin opium and brown sugar, officials said on Thursday.
A police official said that during a raid, a joint team of the Manipur Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Nengjatuan alias Tuanpi from a hotel in Churachandpur district, which shares a border with Mizoram and an unfenced international border with Myanmar.
The arrested individual is allegedly a major drug supplier and is wanted in multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, registered by the NCB, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the Manipur Police.
In another anti-narcotics operation conducted in and around Mantripukhri Bazar in Imphal East district, the security forces seized 3.66 kg of suspected opium, valued at around Rs 22 lakh, and arrested three alleged drug peddlers.
The arrested individuals were identified as Anil Das (75), Roshan Basnet (48), and Goma Karki (33), all residents of different districts of the state.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the seized contraband had originated from neighbouring Myanmar, which shares an approximately 400 km unfenced border with Manipur. Myanmar remains one of the world's largest producers of opium, particularly in its northern regions, including Kachin and Shan states.
The latest seizure marks yet another major crackdown on Myanmar-linked drug trafficking networks operating in Manipur over the past several months.
In the third operation, the Manipur Police arrested one Tinnei Thadou (52), a resident of the Sugnu area in the mountainous Chandel district, and recovered around 1.6 kg of suspected brown sugar, valued at more than Rs 1.5 crore, from her possession.
The woman was arrested from the Songja Khopi village area in Churachandpur district.
Meanwhile, security forces, comprising both Central and state, have continued extensive crackdowns against militants, with search operations and area domination exercises underway in fringe, mixed-populated, and vulnerable areas across the state.
A total of 112 nakas/checkpoints have been set up across Manipur in both the valley and hill districts to curb the movement of militants, other inimical elements, and suspicious vehicles.
Security forces have also been providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks carrying essential commodities, along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). Strict security arrangements and convoy protection continue to be maintained along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the safe movement of vehicles.
Manipur Police have urged the public not to believe rumours or misinformation and advised people to remain cautious of fake videos circulating on social media.