Manipur Intensifies Anti-Drug Drive, 113 Acres of Poppy Crops Destroyed

Imphal: In a major crackdown on illicit drug farming, authorities in Manipur have destroyed 113 acres of illegal poppy cultivation across hill areas of the state, using drone technology to identify and map plantations hidden in difficult terrain. The operation forms part of the state’s sustained anti-narcotics drive aimed at dismantling the illegal drug supply chain.

The coordinated action was carried out by teams comprising the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, central security forces, and the Forest Department, with administrative oversight. Drones played a crucial role in locating large patches of poppy fields spread across remote and forested regions, enabling forces to conduct precise and effective ground operations. Several temporary structures believed to have been used by cultivators were also dismantled during the drive.

Officials said the destruction of the illegal crops is intended to curb opium production and prevent the misuse of Manipur’s hill areas for narcotics-related activities. Authorities have reiterated that surveillance and enforcement will continue, and legal action will be taken against those involved in unlawful cultivation as part of the state’s zero-tolerance approach toward drugs.