Manipur Police seize fuel bound for Myanmar, arrest 4 drivers near Moreh border
Synopsis
Manipur Police intercepted four vehicles carrying 25 containers of fuel near the unfenced Myanmar border on 2 May, arresting the drivers in a suspected smuggling attempt. The bust is part of a wider statewide crackdown that has seen over 150 illegal militant bunkers demolished and 114 checkpoints deployed across valley and hill districts.
Key Takeaways
Manipur Police seized 25 containers of petrol and diesel near Moreh, Tengnoupal district on 2 May 2025 , suspected to be bound for Myanmar.
Four drivers — Elvis Lamkang , Md.
Abas Khan , Dangsawa Koshil Pipachum , and Md.
Mujibur Rahaman — were arrested.
Security forces demolished 23 bunkers in Ukhrul district ; over 150 illegal bunkers have been destroyed statewide so far.
Manipur shares a 398-km unfenced border with Myanmar across five districts , a known smuggling corridor for drugs and contraband.
A total of 114 nakas (checkpoints) have been deployed across Manipur's valley and hill districts.
Police have warned the public against sharing fake social media content, citing legal consequences.
Manipur Police on Saturday, 2 May intercepted four vehicles near Moreh in Tengnoupal district, seizing 25 containers of petrol and diesel suspected to be destined for illegal smuggling into Myanmar, officials said. The four drivers aboard the vehicles were arrested on the spot.
The Seizure and Arrests
According to a senior police official, the vehicles were transporting the fuel illegally towards Moreh, a border town in Tengnoupal district that shares an unfenced boundary with Myanmar. The arrested drivers have been identified as Elvis Lamkang (23), Md. Abas Khan (47), Dangsawa Koshil Pipachum (56), and Md. Mujibur Rahaman (35). They are residents of Chandel, Thoubal, and Kakching districts, according to officials.
The Porous Border Problem
Five districts in Manipur — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar. This porous frontier has long served as a key transit corridor for contraband, including heroin, methamphetamine tablets, exotic animals, and other illegal goods entering India. The latest fuel seizure underscores the range of commodities being smuggled across this stretch.
Bunker Demolitions in Ukhrul District
In a separate operation, security forces destroyed 23 illegally constructed bunkers across the hill ranges of Mongkot Chepu, Shongphel, Mullam, Sirarakhong, and Ringue villages in Ukhrul district. Cumulatively, security forces have now demolished more than 150 illegal bunkers built by militant outfits and armed cadres across different districts. Ukhrul district has witnessed a series of violent incidents since February 2025, making it one of the most troubled areas in the state in recent months.
Statewide Security Crackdown
Security forces comprising both central and state agencies are conducting extensive crackdowns on militant activities. Search operations and area domination exercises are under way in fringe, mixed-population, and vulnerable areas across multiple districts. To curb the movement of illegal elements and suspicious vehicles, a total of 114 nakas (checkpoints) have been set up across Manipur in both valley and hill districts. Security personnel are also providing escorts to vehicles, including trucks transporting essential commodities, along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), with strict convoy protection measures in place on sensitive stretches.
Police Warning on Fake Social Media Content
Manipur Police have urged the public not to believe rumours and to remain cautious of fake videos circulating on social media.
Point of View
And apparently, subsidised Indian fuel goes out. The demolition of over 150 bunkers signals operational intent, but the persistence of smuggling networks suggests that physical crackdowns alone will not seal a frontier that geography and economics conspire to keep open. The real question is whether border management infrastructure — fencing, surveillance, and customs enforcement — will receive the investment that security operations cannot substitute for.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manipur Police seize near the Myanmar border on 2 May 2025?
Manipur Police intercepted four vehicles carrying 25 containers of petrol and diesel near Moreh in Tengnoupal district on 2 May 2025, suspected to be intended for smuggling into Myanmar. The four drivers aboard the vehicles were arrested.
Who were the drivers arrested in the Manipur fuel smuggling case?
The four arrested drivers are Elvis Lamkang (23), Md. Abas Khan (47), Dangsawa Koshil Pipachum (56), and Md. Mujibur Rahaman (35). They are residents of Chandel, Thoubal, and Kakching districts in Manipur.
Why is the Manipur-Myanmar border considered a smuggling hotspot?
Five Manipur districts share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar, making it a porous corridor for contraband including heroin, methamphetamine, exotic animals, and now fuel. The absence of physical fencing along most of this stretch makes surveillance and interception difficult.
How many illegal bunkers have been demolished in Manipur's security crackdown?
Security forces have demolished more than 150 illegally constructed bunkers built by militant outfits across different districts. In the latest operation, 23 bunkers were destroyed in the hill ranges of Ukhrul district.
What security measures are currently in place across Manipur?
A total of 114 nakas (checkpoints) have been deployed across Manipur's valley and hill districts. Security forces are also conducting search operations and providing convoy escorts along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) to protect essential commodity movement.
