Imphal, Jan 8: Security and enforcement agencies have dealt a significant setback to illegal narcotics production in Manipur after a coordinated operation led to the destruction of more than 50 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district. The large-scale drive underscores the administration’s intensified efforts to curb drug farming in the state’s hill regions.
The operation was carried out on Tuesday by joint teams comprising personnel from the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Forest Department and the Narcotics Control Bureau. Acting in coordination, the teams targeted poppy fields spread across the hill ranges of Moljol, Tusam, Vaichei-Naphai and nearby areas, which have been identified as vulnerable zones for illegal cultivation.
Officials said a total of 53 acres of poppy fields were destroyed during the operation. In addition to uprooting the crops, the teams dismantled seven temporary huts that were being used by cultivators. Large quantities of materials linked to the illegal activity were also seized and destroyed, including 11 bags of fertilisers, 23 bottles of Roundup herbicide and 14 bags of salt.
Various tools and equipment used for poppy farming, such as spray pumps, pipes and additional herbicides, were also set on fire at the site to prevent further misuse. Authorities noted that the systematic destruction of both crops and infrastructure was aimed at disrupting the cultivation cycle and deterring future attempts.
The crackdown reflects the government’s ongoing campaign against narcotics cultivation in Manipur’s hill districts, where poppy farming has remained a persistent challenge for law enforcement. Officials said similar operations would continue as part of a broader strategy to tackle drug production and related criminal activities in the region.
