Imphal/Guwahati, June 10 (NationPress) Law enforcement agencies have confiscated drugs worth over Rs 100 crore in Manipur and Assam, arresting nine drug traffickers within the last 48 hours, officials reported on Tuesday.

A senior official from the Manipur Home Department disclosed that a special operation named “Operation White Veil” was executed in the border regions of Churachandpur district. This operation involved a coordinated effort from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs, Assam Rifles, and the Manipur Police.

The joint team successfully recovered 7,755.75 grams of heroin valued at Rs 54.29 crore and 6,736 grams of opium worth Rs 87.57 lakh in the international grey drug market, along with Rs 35.63 lakh in cash.

Additionally, two walkie-talkies and a vehicle were confiscated, and five individuals were detained under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the official added.

The drugs were discovered in a residence at Thadou Veng in the Singngat Sub-Division of Churachandpur district, concealed in various soap cases and small tin containers.

Initial investigations suggest that the confiscated drugs were smuggled into Churachandpur from Myanmar via the porous forested border. Despite the numerous challenges, a well-coordinated effort from law enforcement led to this successful operation. The NDPS Act imposes severe penalties on offenders, which may include rigorous imprisonment for up to ten years.

Previously, significant quantities of drugs have been seized from Churachandpur, which shares its border with Mizoram and Myanmar.

In Assam, authorities seized drugs valued at Rs 45 crore from Cachar district, leading to the arrest of four drug dealers.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commended the police for their effective operations. He tweeted: "In two successful anti-narcotics missions, Cachar district police seized 1.5 lakh Yaba tablets worth Rs 45 crore based on credible intelligence."

"Four individuals were apprehended in relation to this. The Assam Police is steadfast in safeguarding our youth," the Chief Minister stated.

This latest seizure contributes to a series of successful operations by Assam Police, part of the state’s vigorous anti-narcotics initiative. Officials noted that, as usual, the drugs seized in Manipur and Assam were smuggled from Myanmar, which has a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states: Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. This unfenced international border serves as a major transit hub for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets entering India.