Security forces in Manipur and Mizoram seized heroin worth over ₹5.8 crore and recovered a US-made .32-calibre pistol in a series of coordinated anti-narcotics and arms operations on Sunday night and Monday, with five suspected drug peddlers arrested across the two northeastern states, officials confirmed.

Manipur: 2.5 kg Heroin Intercepted in Churachandpur

Acting on specific intelligence, the Assam Rifles under the Spear Corps, in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), intercepted two vehicles in Churachandpur district of Manipur and recovered 2.5 kg of suspected heroin, valued at approximately ₹5 crore. Two suspected drug peddlers were apprehended in connection with the haul.

Churachandpur district shares an inter-state border with Mizoram and an unfenced international border with Myanmar, making it particularly susceptible to cross-border smuggling. The seized narcotics are suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar, according to police.

Mizoram: Dual Operations Target Narcotics and Illegal Arms

In Mizoram, Assam Rifles troops acting on credible intelligence launched a joint operation with the state police on Sunday night in the Iron Gate area of Zokhawthar, Champhai district. The joint team intercepted two persons and recovered 44 grams of suspected heroin, valued at approximately ₹8.8 lakh. Both suspects were handed over to Zokhawthar Police Station for further investigation.

In a separate operation in the Saron Veng area of Aizawl, Assam Rifles conducted a joint operation with the Mizoram Police based on intelligence about illegal arms. A search led to the recovery of a US-made .32-calibre pistol, one magazine, and three live rounds from one apprehended individual. The accused, along with the recovered arms and ammunition, was handed over to Aizawl Police for action under the Arms Act.

Strategic Vulnerability: The Golden Triangle Corridor

The operations underscore the persistent security challenge posed by the Northeast's porous international boundaries. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share approximately 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar, which neighbours the Golden Triangle — one of the world's largest illicit narcotics-producing regions. This geography has turned Manipur and Mizoram into major drug-trafficking corridors, with contraband flowing steadily despite repeated crackdowns.

Notably, the simultaneous recovery of a foreign-made firearm alongside narcotics points to a broader pattern: drug trafficking networks in the region frequently operate alongside illegal arms supply chains, compounding the security risk for border communities.

Security Forces' Response and Next Steps

Officials described the operations as intelligence-driven, reflecting an increasingly coordinated approach between the Assam Rifles, NCB, and state police forces. A defence spokesman said the Manipur operation 'reaffirmed the steadfast resolve of the security forces and partner agencies to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks.' The Mizoram operations were cited as evidence of the 'effectiveness, vigilance and intelligence-based approach' of the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police in the region.

All five arrested individuals have been handed over to the relevant police stations for further investigation and legal proceedings. With the Myanmar border remaining largely unfenced, sustained pressure from security agencies is expected to continue as the festive season — historically a high-trafficking period — approaches.