Imphal: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a drug trafficking module with links to Myanmar in Manipur, arresting two local residents and seizing over seven kilograms of heroin valued at around Rs 15 crore in the international market, officials said on Thursday.
The operation was carried out on Wednesday by the NCB’s Imphal zonal unit in coordination with the Assam Rifles, following specific intelligence inputs.
During the operation, the team intercepted a four-wheeler near the India–Myanmar border and recovered 7.31 kg of heroin concealed in 638 plastic soap cases.
Officials said preliminary investigations suggest the contraband originated from the Haichin region of Myanmar and was being routed through dense forest corridors in Manipur to avoid routine police checks and security surveillance.
ALSO READ: FIR filed against national shooting coach over sexual assault allegations; NRAI suspends him
The two arrested men, both residents of Churachandpur district, are suspected to be part of a larger cross-border trafficking network, officials said, adding that further investigation is under way to identify other links in the racket.
NCB officials said intensified enforcement along traditional drug trafficking routes between India and Myanmar has compelled traffickers to shift to more difficult forested and riverine paths in an attempt to evade detection by law enforcement agencies.
