Manipur Police Arrest Drug Traffickers — Heroin Seized, PREPAK & UPPK Cadres Detained
Manipur security forces and police arrested five people in two coordinated operations in Imphal East and Thoubal districts on September 4, 2025. In Imphal East (Khomidok Karong area) four people were held and 129 grams of suspected Heroin No. 4, along with vials, syringes, mobile phones and cash, were recovered; in Thoubal a separate arrest yielded boxes of cough syrups and other controlled formulations. During the same period police also detained active cadres of proscribed groups (PREPAK and a self-styled UPPK lance corporal) as part of wider crackdowns.
- Two coordinated operations were announced on September 4, 2025 — one in Imphal East (Khomidok Karong village under Heingang Police Station) and another in Thoubal district. The operations resulted in five arrests.
- Imphal East seizures: Four people — identified as Mariyam Begum (54), Abdul Matalib (36), Md. Umar (28) and Ruhina (30) — were arrested from Khomidok Karong. Authorities recovered 129 grams of Heroin No. 4, 137 empty vials, 14 syringes, seven mobile phones and ₹1,23,750 in cash. Those items suggest both retail-level peddling and some repackaging activity (vials and syringes).
- Thoubal seizure: A separate arrest of Asem Somanda Singh at Khekman Makha Leikai in Thoubal unearthed multiple boxes of cough syrups (products like SAMPFX+, SPAS-TRASCEN-PLUS, TUSSREX-TR, BESCODEX), which are often diverted or misused for non-medical psychoactive effects
- Proscribed-group detentions: On the same days police detained a self-styled lance corporal of the proscribed UPPK, and multiple PREPAK cadres were arrested from check points and village operations. Seizures included scooters, demand letters (extortion notes) and phones — material that ties militant activity to revenue-seeking behavior
Those are the load-bearing facts reported by Manipur-focused media and local police briefings. What they show is a two-front effort: drug interdiction and countering militant financing through arrests of cadres and recovery of extortion material.
How serious is 129 grams of heroin? — legal and practical context
Numbers matter under the law. India’s NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) regime defines “small” and “commercial” quantities for each substance — a key legal touchstone because punishment and bail standards depend on it. For heroin, the notified thresholds are 5 grams (small quantity) and 250 grams (commercial quantity). That means 129 grams is above “small” but below the “commercial” threshold, which places it in an intermediate bracket with significant penalties but different bail considerations compared to commercial-quantity cases.
Practically, while this seizure (129 g) is smaller than some headline-grabbing kilo-scale hauls, it still indicates active supply and repackaging (evidenced by vials and syringes). Street-level or mid-level seizures are important because they often point to distribution networks that supply users locally — and networks are what law enforcement must map and dismantle.
5 Unique FAQs
1. Q: How much heroin did police seize in the recent Imphal East operation?
A: Authorities reported 129 grams of suspected Heroin No. 4, along with vials, syringes, mobile phones and cash recovered from four suspects in Khomidok Karong village.
2. Q: Is 129 g of heroin considered a commercial quantity under Indian law?
A: No. Under India’s notified NDPS thresholds, heroin’s commercial quantity is 250 grams (small quantity is 5 g). So 129 g sits between “small” and “commercial,” with serious penalties but different legal handling than commercial-quantity cases.
3. Q: Why were cough syrups seized in Thoubal — are they illegal?
A: Many cough syrups are legal medicines but can contain codeine or similar compounds that are misused. Large, unaccounted-for consignments or diversion from legitimate supply channels can be illegal and are seized as part of anti-diversion enforcement.
4. Q: Did police also detain militants during these operations?
A: Yes. In the same period police detained a self-styled UPPK lance corporal and several PREPAK cadres in separate actions; those detentions included recovery of extortion demand letters and other material. The combined operations target both narcotics and militant funding.
5. Q: How can communities help prevent drug trafficking locally?
A: Report suspicious late-night deliveries, unusual packaging, or persistent unknown sellers to police hotlines; secure household medicines; support and encourage access to treatment for users; and participate in local awareness efforts. Community tips are often the most actionable leads for police.
