Manipur drug bust: 51 kg opium worth ₹3 crore seized, inter-state module linked to Myanmar dismantled
Synopsis
Two back-to-back drug busts in Manipur within 24 hours — 51 kg of opium worth ₹3 crore and 4.267 kg of heroin worth ₹8.5 crore — expose a well-organised inter-state trafficking corridor running from Myanmar through Manipur's porous 398-km unfenced border, reaching deep into Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
Security forces seized 51 kg of opium worth over ₹3 crore at Leingangpokpi village, Jiribam district on 29 April 2025 .
Arrested: Sukhvinder Singh (30) from Punjab and Sandeep Singh Tilno (41) from Uttar Pradesh.
The consignment reportedly originated from Myanmar ; the truck and three mobile phones were also seized.
Within 24 hours , the NCB , Assam Rifles , and Manipur Police also seized 4.267 kg of heroin worth ₹8.5 crore in Churachandpur district.
Five Manipur districts share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar, making the region a key trafficking corridor.
Security forces in Manipur arrested two drug peddlers from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh and seized 51 kilograms of opium valued at over ₹3 crore on 29 April 2025, dismantling an inter-state trafficking module with alleged links to Myanmar, officials said on Wednesday.
How the Interception Unfolded
Security personnel intercepted a truck carrying contraband opium at Leingangpokpi village in Jiribam district, along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). The occupants were apprehended on the spot. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sukhvinder Singh (30), a resident of Mari Udhoke in Punjab, and Sandeep Singh Tilno (41), a resident of Gudiyan Purwa in Uttar Pradesh.
Authorities recovered two carton boxes containing the opium, along with three mobile phones, from their possession. The truck used for transportation has also been confiscated.
Myanmar Link and Trafficking Route
Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment originated from Myanmar, with Jiribam district believed to be the intended destination. Jiribam shares an inter-state border with southern Assam, which in turn borders Bangladesh — a detail that underscores the complex transnational dimension of the trafficking route. Myanmar remains a major global producer of opium, particularly in its northern regions of Kachin and Shan states.
Second Major Crackdown in 24 Hours
This seizure marks the second significant anti-trafficking operation in Manipur within a span of 24 hours. On Tuesday, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, arrested two drug peddlers and seized 4.267 kilograms of heroin valued at ₹8.5 crore, dismantling another Myanmar-linked trafficking network.
That joint operation, conducted in a remote area near Khuakhual in Churachandpur district, led to the recovery of 374 soap cases containing heroin. Authorities intercepted a vehicle and a Kenbo motorcycle during the operation. An official described it as a
Point of View
Multi-state supply chains. With 398 km of Manipur's border with Myanmar remaining unfenced, interdiction at highway checkpoints is essentially the last line of defence — a reactive posture against a proactive criminal network. The real question is whether intelligence-led operations can disrupt the sourcing end in Myanmar, not just the delivery end in India.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Manipur drug bust on 29 April 2025?
Security forces seized 51 kilograms of opium valued at over ₹3 crore from a truck intercepted at Leingangpokpi village in Jiribam district. Two carton boxes of opium, three mobile phones, and the truck were all confiscated.
Who were the drug peddlers arrested in Manipur?
The two arrested individuals are Sukhvinder Singh (30) from Mari Udhoke in Punjab and Sandeep Singh Tilno (41) from Gudiyan Purwa in Uttar Pradesh. Both were apprehended at the interception site on NH-37.
What is the Myanmar connection in the Manipur drug seizure?
Preliminary investigations indicate the opium consignment originated from Myanmar, a major global opium producer. Jiribam district, where the seizure occurred, borders southern Assam, highlighting the transnational trafficking route.
Was there another drug bust in Manipur around the same time?
Yes. Within 24 hours, the NCB in coordination with the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police seized 4.267 kg of heroin worth ₹8.5 crore near Khuakhual in Churachandpur district, also linked to Myanmar-based trafficking networks.
Why is Manipur particularly vulnerable to cross-border drug trafficking?
Five districts in Manipur — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar, making the region a key entry point for narcotics flowing into India.
