Brown Sugar worth ₹48.7 Cr seized in Manipur’s Churachandpur, one arrested
Security personnel suspect that the drugs, after being smuggled from Myanmar, were brought to Manipur through Mizoram
The contraband contained in 418 soap cases and the police team with the arrested individual. (Photo: @manipur_police/X)
Imphal, May 5: Smuggling of drugs from Myanmar continues unabated in northeastern states as brown sugar valued at Rs 48.7 crore in the international black market was seized by the security forces in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
A police spokesman said that acting on secret information, the security forces arrested a drug peddler identified as Thianmuansiam Samte (32) from Gamgpimual village and 5.016 kg of brown sugar were recovered from his possession.
The brown sugar was contained in 418 soap cases and the police have seized a car and a mobile phone from the arrested individual’s possession.
Security personnel suspect that the drugs, after being smuggled from Myanmar, were brought to Manipur through Mizoram.
Manipur's Churachandpur district shares unfenced border with both Myanmar and Mizoram.
Appreciating the police efforts, former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, in a post on a popular micro-blogging website, said, “Well done, Churachandpur Police. Saving us from illegal drugs is saving our future.”
Manipur’s Tengnoupal and Mizoram’s Champhai district are the two hotspots for smuggling of various drugs, explosives, exotic animals, arms and ammunition and other contraband from neighbouring Myanmar.
Despite strict security vigilance, smuggling of various drugs, especially highly addictive methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar, continued unabated into the northeastern states.
Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram -- serves as a key transit point for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India.
Myanmar's Chin state is a hub for smuggling of varied drugs, exotic wildlife animals and many other contraband through six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip.
--IANS