Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, May 5: In a major crackdown on transnational drug trafficking, security forces in Manipur's Churachandpur district seized brown sugar worth an estimated Rs 48.7 crore, underscoring the persistent challenge of narcotics smuggling from neighboring Myanmar.
Acting on intelligence inputs, security personnel apprehended 32-year-old Thianmuansiam Samte from Gamgpimual village. Authorities recovered 5.016 kilograms of brown sugar concealed in 418 soap cases. A vehicle and mobile phone were also seized during the operation.
Churachandpur, which shares an unfenced and porous border with Myanmar and Mizoram, remains a vulnerable point for cross-border drug flow. Officials suspect that the seized narcotics were trafficked from Myanmar and brought into Manipur via Mizoram—routes frequently exploited by smugglers due to the challenging terrain and lack of fencing.
Applauding the efforts of law enforcement, former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh took to social media, saying: “Well done, Churachandpur Police. Saving us from illegal drugs is saving our future.”
Tengnoupal district in Manipur and Champhai in Mizoram are known hotspots for trafficking not just of drugs, but also arms, explosives, and even exotic wildlife, all originating from across the Myanmar border. Experts and officials alike have pointed out that the drug menace is among several factors contributing to the ongoing ethnic tensions and instability in Manipur.
Despite heightened surveillance and operations, narcotics—including heroin and methamphetamine—continue to pour into India’s northeastern states through Myanmar, which shares a 1,643-kilometre unfenced border with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
The Chin State in Myanmar has emerged as a major hub for the illegal trade, with contraband regularly trafficked through six key districts of Mizoram: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
Authorities continue to intensify anti-smuggling operations as part of broader efforts to combat the narco-terrorism threat in the region.