Law enforcers action - Well and good : But need to trap the King pin
- Imphal Times Editorial :: January 09 2018 -

The continuous seizure of narcotic drugs in the last couple of days cannot be considered just another achievement of the law enforcing agency.

No doubt the persons in uniform are doing their job and people across the state need to appreciate them.

However, it is also the need of the hour to ponder on the rise of the drug smuggling in the state.

There are also possibility that those arrested might have been only some few are unlucky toddlers, as many could have been escaped.

When smuggling of narcotic substances is a threat to the entire society, the seizure of illegal gold smuggled from Myanmar side by security force also showed the rise of mafia in the region.

Past evidences and logic showed that Gold or drugs smugglers would have some connection in one way or other because both in the illegal business need huge investment and political backing.

A common man with little money or who does not have political connection would never indulge in such business.

In the last couple of days, Assam Rifle troopers seized 20 gold biscuits worth around rupees 95 Lakhs from two persons at Imphal-Moreh road.

From the way the toddlers carried the gold biscuits it can be understood from common sense that they are on the business for quite some times.

It is unlikely that these two toddlers could have invested the huge amount for smuggling the gold inside the state.

There is definitely someone who could do the investment part. This was not the first time that gold biscuits are being seized by security agency.

On October 1, 2017 authority of Customs seized 12 pieces of gold bars weighing around 19.954 Kg, worth around Rs. 6 crore were seized from Jiribam bound Tata Sumo vehicle at Yurembam area.

Earlier on September 16, of the same year CISF personnel deployed at Imphal Tulihal Airport seized around 6 Kg of gold hidden at the anus of six persons.

These gold were supposed to be smuggled out of the state and they were reportedly smuggled from Myanmar side, as per source from the law enforcing agency.

On August 17, 2017 Assam Rifles arrested one gold smuggler carrying 140 gold bars weighing approximately 23.230 kg and worth Rs 6.969 crores at vehicle check post at Imphal Moreh road.

In almost all the case the toddlers carrying the gold are different persons and background of some of this toddlers showed that they are carrying the gold for a mere tips.

Few years back, in February middle week of 2013, police seized drugs worth Rs 1.3 core which was smuggled in the state.

The case for this matter is still pending in the court with CBI investing over it. Some of the high profile individuals are facing trial for the case.

On January 6 this year, Psychotropic drugs (WY) worth Rs 3 crore in the international market was seized from by Manipur Police team hidden inside the sand in a truck which came from Moreh side.

On April 13, 2017, Narcotics and border affairs team of Manipur police seized 300 gm of narcotics drugs (Heroin no.4) worth about Rs 30 lakhs in the international market in Imphal.

On July first week of 2017 - Manipur police seized 150 gm of heroin worth around Rs 11 lakh in the local market from the possession of youth during a frisking and checking operation in Imphal East district.

When gold smuggling had little to do with the society of Manipur, drugs smuggling should be seriously deal as it will give tremendous effect in the society.

And what should be kept in mind is that there is always a possibility of strong nexus between the gold smugglers and the drugs smugglers in the region.

The quantity of drugs smuggling in the state showed that there is an easy market for the substances in Imphal and other part of Manipur.

It is a fact that these psychotropic substances are mostly used among the vulnerable youths.

The changing trend of Manipur society has now kept these users very very far to reach as they become more hidden population.

So far well and good on the part of law enforcing agency. They have now arrested many toddlers.

But the effort will be meaningless if the law enforcers fail to investigate properly over the matter so that the king pin behind the smuggling of illegal substances are not let free.