Assam Rifles and Manipur Police seize methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 40 crore in Jiribam, arrest drug peddlers, recover heroin, ammunition, and explosives, and expose Myanmar-linked cross-border drug trafficking networks in Northeast India.
In a major blow to transnational drug trafficking networks operating in India’s Northeast, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Manipur Police, have seized a massive consignment of methamphetamine tablets worth more than Rs 40 crore in Manipur’s Jiribam district. The operation led to the arrest of a drug peddler and exposed the continuing challenge posed by cross-border narcotics smuggling from Myanmar into India.
According to official sources, the seizure was carried out on Thursday following precise intelligence inputs regarding the movement of illegal narcotics through the inter-state border region connecting southern Assam and western Manipur. Acting swiftly on the information, Assam Rifles personnel launched a joint anti-narcotics operation with Manipur Police in Jiribam, a district increasingly vulnerable due to its strategic location and transit routes.
During the operation, security forces intercepted a truck suspected of transporting contraband. Upon thorough inspection, the team recovered 1.60 lakh methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as Yaba tablets, hidden inside the vehicle. The highly addictive synthetic drug has gained notoriety for its devastating social and health consequences, particularly among youth.
Officials estimated the market value of the seized drugs at over Rs 40 crore, making it one of the most significant drug recoveries in the region in recent months. The arrested individual, along with the seized contraband and the truck, has been handed over to Jiribam Police for further investigation under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
In an official statement, the Assam Rifles reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and safeguarding society from the growing menace of narcotics. “Such operations demonstrate our resolve to dismantle drug networks and protect communities from the harmful effects of illegal drugs,” the statement said.
In another significant development, Manipur Police arrested a second drug peddler in a separate operation in Imphal East district. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Mustakim, a resident of Mantripukhri.
From his possession, police recovered approximately 310 grams of heroin, concealed in 24 soap cases, a common method used by traffickers to evade detection. A Maruti Swift car, allegedly used for transporting the narcotics, was also seized. The accused is currently under interrogation as authorities attempt to trace forward and backward linkages connected to the drug supply chain.
Apart from drug-related seizures, security forces also intensified their counter-insurgency efforts across Manipur. In a joint operation, an active cadre of the banned militant outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) was arrested from a rented house in Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, located in Imphal West district.
The arrested militant was identified as Salam Shyam Singh (44). Based on further intelligence, his associate Salam Naobi Singh (43), a resident of Kakching district, was also arrested from his residence for allegedly receiving and storing arms and explosives.
Security personnel recovered 111 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, one high-explosive grenade without a detonator, two detonators, two mobile phones, and two Aadhaar cards from their possession. The recoveries highlight the persistent threat posed by militant groups attempting to regroup amid ongoing instability in the state.
A senior police official confirmed that the seized methamphetamine tablets contain a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and are commonly referred to as the “crazy drug.” The substance is banned in India due to its extreme addictive nature and severe psychological effects.
Investigators strongly suspect that the consignment was smuggled from Myanmar, particularly from Chin state, which has emerged as a major hub for narcotics production and trafficking. The region has increasingly been linked to the smuggling of drugs, exotic wildlife, and other contraband into India.
Mizoram shares a 510-kilometre porous international border with Myanmar across six districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—making it a vulnerable corridor for cross-border crime.
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Similarly, Manipur shares a 398-kilometre unfenced border with Myanmar through five districts—Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul—further complicating enforcement efforts.
Security agencies have reiterated that sustained coordination among central forces, state police, and intelligence agencies is crucial to disrupting drug trafficking networks and preventing the flow of narcotics and arms into the country. With repeated seizures and arrests, authorities aim to send a strong message to criminal syndicates exploiting the region’s geography and instability.
