Imphal: Security forces in Manipur have destroyed about 25 acres of illegal poppy fields in the hilly areas of Kangpokpi district, dealing a major blow to the state’s narcotics network and foiling an attempt to produce opium worth several crores.
Officials said the coordinated operation, launched on Wednesday by the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and Manipur Police, targeted poppy plantations in the remote Awlmun area.
The day-long exercise led to the destruction of the fields and eight makeshift huts used for storing and processing the narcotic crop.
A defence official said the destroyed cultivation could have yielded nearly 190 kilograms of opium.
The operation was carried out in difficult terrain and adverse weather, reflecting the determination of the security forces to curb drug production and dismantle financial networks linked to insurgent activities.
Earlier this month, on November 2, a similar anti-narcotics drive in the same region resulted in the eradication of poppy fields spanning 30 acres.
Security personnel also demolished farm huts and seized fertiliser bags, salt sacks, and two burnt vehicles from the site.
The crackdown forms part of the Manipur government’s ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, under which thousands of acres of illegal poppy plantations have been cleared over the years.
In 2020 alone, security agencies identified over 8,000 acres of poppy cultivation across the state, destroying nearly 1,700 acres.
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Authorities said the sustained action in recent years has significantly reduced the area under poppy cultivation, showing positive results of the joint operations between state and central forces.
Officials also noted that the intertwined challenges of narcotics trade and ethnic unrest continue to pose serious threats to peace and governance in the region.
The Assam Rifles reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics and reaffirmed its commitment to uprooting poppy cultivation along the India-Myanmar border.
“By striking at the core of the drug trade, we aim to ensure lasting stability and security in Manipur and the region,” a defence spokesperson said.
