2.445 kg opium seized, poppy plantations destroyed
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 15 2023: A combined team of Thoubal district police commandos led by additional superintendent of police (Ops) O Wangkhomba and personnel of Nongpok Sekmai police station and 16 Assam Rifles rounded up three-persons with 2.445 kg of opium at Haokhongphai Lungther Junction under Nongpok Sekmai police station, on Sunday.

The arrestees have been identified as Letsuan thang Vaiphei (26), son of Tongginthang Vaiphei and Ngamkhohou Khongsai (33), son of Ngamlun Khongsai, both from Sontak Saijang village in Senapati district, and Somithan Zimik (18), son of Ringphangam Zimik of Phungcham village in Ukhrul district.

According to police, on receiving specific information, the combined team conducted frisking at Haokhongphai Lungther Junction around 11:30 am during which three persons were spotted coming on a black coloured Pulsar motorcycle (MN01AE 2108).The police team stopped the trio and upon checking 2.445 Kg of opium was found from their possession, the police informed.

Based on intelligent input that some smuggler's are passing through from Senapati district to Ukhrul via Haokhongphai Lungther junction, the joint team overpowered the suspected smugglers and found the opium packed in five polythene bags.

Two mobile handsets and .

one motorbike have also been recovered from them.

From their preliminary interrogations, police came to know that the contraband items would be smuggled from Senapati district to Ukhrul.

The trio along with the seized items has been handed over to Nongpok Sekmai police station for further investigations, the police source added.

Meanwhile, Kangpokpi district police in collaboration with the villagers of Liangmai Naga villages destroyed 2 acres of poppy plantations near Zeimeng Lake in Kangpokpi district on Sunday.

The drive against poppy cultivation organised under the supervision of Kangpokpi district SP Th Vikramjit was led by Kangpokpi police station officer in-charge Kh Sunilkumar in collaboration with volunteers of Liangmai Naga Council and villagers of Chawankining.

During the drive, the team also burned down a temporary makeshift allegedly used by poppy cultivators.

Speaking to the media, OC Sunilkumar informed that in sync with the state government's "war on drug 2.0" campaign, the district police has been taking up several steps to stop the drug menace in Manipur.

The drive on Sunday was also carried out part of the district police's initiatives, Sunilkumar said, adding that it will continue destroying poppy cultivations and arresting of those involved.

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