In a coordinated crackdown on narcotics production, security forces destroyed about 25 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, dealing a significant blow to drug networks operating in the state’s hilly regions.

The operation, carried out jointly by the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and Manipur Police, targeted the remote Awlmun area—an inaccessible zone often used for illicit agriculture. Officials said eight makeshift huts used for storing and processing poppy were demolished during the day-long effort.

Despite difficult terrain and adverse weather, security personnel completed the mission successfully. A defence official estimated that the destroyed fields could have yielded nearly 190 kilograms of opium, valued at several crores in the illegal market.

Earlier crackdowns strengthen anti-drug momentum

This operation follows a similar drive conducted on November 2 in the same region, where security forces had eradicated poppy fields spanning 30 acres. In that operation, authorities also destroyed several farm huts and seized fertiliser bags, salt sacks, and two burnt vehicles linked to the illegal cultivation.
Both actions fall under the Manipur government’s continuing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, launched to dismantle narcotics networks that often feed into insurgency-related financial channels.

Long-term efforts show results

Officials highlighted that thousands of acres of illegal poppy plantations have been cleared in recent years. In 2020 alone, agencies identified more than 8,000 acres of poppy cultivation across Manipur and destroyed nearly 1,700 acres.
Authorities said these sustained operations have significantly reduced the area under poppy farming and have helped disrupt drug trafficking routes along the India–Myanmar border.

Security forces reaffirm zero-tolerance policy

The Assam Rifles reiterated its unwavering stance against narcotics. “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.

Officials cautioned, however, that the intersection of drug trafficking and ongoing ethnic tensions continues to pose serious challenges to peace and governance in the state.

The latest crackdown marks another important step in dismantling the narcotics economy that has long fueled unrest in Manipur.

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