Paramilitary Assam Rifles and Manipur Police have, in a joint operation, launched a special drive against drug trafficking in the state. The security forces are trying to target the rampant practice of poppy cultivation in the state.
Poppy is the source of opium, which in turn is used for manufacturing narcotics like heroin. Poppy is cultivated on a large scale in Manipur in areas like Chandel and Churachandpur, say sources in the police. It is supplied to Myanmar, the country with which the state shares a border, and is one of the world's biggest producers of opium.
In the last four days, poppy crop worth approximately Rs 41 crore, grown across 252 acres of land, have been destroyed in Chandel district.
"People from Myanmar came to the village and told us to grow poppy in return for cash and rice," said a farmer in Chandel's Chaizang Village.
A few days ago, Manipur's Narcotics Control Bureau busted a mobile heroin processing unit near Imphal. One kilogram of heroin was recovered and four people were arrested.
Athouba Singh, who works with the Narcotics and Border Issues unit of the Manipur Police, says, "After extracting the poppy, they send it to Myanmar, where they manufacture the heroin. After manufacturing heroin, it will again return to Manipur as the state falls along the drug route. From Imphal, it is distributed to different countries and states".
"Indomitable Courage": 2 BSF Soldiers Killed In Ethnic Violence-Hit Manipur Awarded Gallantry Medals Dozens Of Rohingyas Killed In Drone Attack While Fleeing Myanmar "Kuki MLAs' Brinkmanship...": Meitei Alliance On Letter Questioning Troop Movement Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Delhi Prisons Announces Remission For 1160 Convicts On Independence Day ISRO To Launch Earth Observation Satellite Tomorrow "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.