Manipur govt destroys drugs worth Rs 399 cr

Manipur government on Saturday destroyed 314.471 kg of seized drugs. These drugs were valued Rs 399 Crore.

Chief minister N Biren Singh stated in X, As part of our relentless War on Drugs initiative, today we achieved another crucial milestone in our fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse. A total of 314.471 kg of seized drugs were disposed of at the Shija Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility, Lamdeng, Imphal West in the presence of Ministers, MLAs, DGP Rajiv Singh, and other concerned officials”.



He added, “The substances destroyed include: Heroin powder 9.884 kg,Brown Sugar 244.409 kg,WY tablets 26.239 kg, SP capsules 661 grams, N-10 tablets 493 grams, Pseudoephedrine tablets 505 grams, Ganja 32.280 kg.”

Singh said, “Our War on Drugs is not just a campaign, it is a mission to protect our future generations, safeguard the integrity of our society, and ensure a brighter tomorrow for Manipur. Let us all stand united in this endeavour, strengthening our resolve and commitment to make Manipur a drug-free state.”

Singh on Friday said that a combined team of police, CRPF and forest officials jointly destroyed 35 acres of illegal poppy cultivation at Lhungjang village in Kangpokpi district.

The Chief Minister, in a post on X, said: “I commend the Kangpokpi Police, 133 Bn CRPF, Forest Department, and the Executive Magistrate for their coordinated and resolute efforts in conducting the destruction drive of illegal poppy cultivation at Lhungjang village under Saikul Police Station.”

“The destruction of approximately 35 acres of illegal poppy cultivation is a significant step toward our shared vision of a drug-free Manipur. I urge all stakeholders and citizens to join hands in this fight against drug-related activities and illegal practices,” he said.

Biren Singh, who holds the home portfolio, earlier said that as part of the government’s “war against drugs”, Manipur Police along with paramilitary and other security forces have regularly been destroying illegal poppy cultivation, mostly in the hilly areas.

According to a government report, various law enforcement agencies, including Manipur Police, have destroyed 19,135.60 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the state’s 12 districts between 2017 and 2024.

The report, prepared by Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MARSAC), in Kangpokpi district, the highest areas of 4,454.4 acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed in the last seven years (2017-2024), followed by 3,348 acres in Ukhrul and 2,713.8 acres in Churachandpur.

The Manipur government on several occasions said that the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur (since May 2023) is a creation of illegal immigrants from Myanmar adding that these migrants after illegally settling in the state started the cultivation of illicit poppies.

At least 250 people have been killed and over a thousand people injured in the ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the non-tribal Meitei people since May 3, 2023. More than 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes and villages and now staying in relief camps in different districts for the past 20 months.

The ethnic violence between the non-tribals Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.