Manipur Police Arrest Woman with 153 Grams of Heroin in Bishnupur
A targeted Anti-Drug Squad raid at Phougakchao Ikhai bazar in Bishnupur district, Manipur, led to the arrest of 36-year-old Farida Begum and the recovery of 10 soap cases containing about 153 grams of heroin plus a mobile phone. The suspect has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2023, and police say investigations are on to trace the source and network behind the consignment.
According to police briefings reported by Northeast Now, the Manipur Police Anti-Drug Squad executed a surprise operation in the Phougakchao Ikhai market area under Phougakchao Ikhai police station limits on Thursday and detained a woman identified as Farida Begum (36), a resident of Terakhongshangbi Gram Panchayat, Ward No. 1, Bishnupur district. During the raid officers recovered 10 soap cases that contained heroin weighing about 153 grams and a mobile phone. The accused has been charged under the NDPS (Amendment) Act, 2023, and investigations are underway to trace the source and distribution network of the contraband.
And then there’s the mobile phone recovered from the suspect — arguably as valuable as the drugs themselves. Phones can reveal call logs, contact trees, transaction instructions, photographs, and location pings that map the network. In many investigations, a single handset is what turns a local arrest into broader takedowns.
Who is the suspect — and why identity matters
Police have named Farida Begum (36) and listed her address. In drug cases, the arrested person’s role can vary: courier, low-level seller, local contact, or in rare cases, a higher-tier handler. The way someone is charged and how their case proceeds will be shaped by the evidence: phone records, witness statements, financial trails, and prior intelligence. At this stage, police line up formal charges under the NDPS Amendment Act and start tracing where the soap cases came from. The fact that authorities acted in a market suggests they believe these drugs were either being stored for quick pickup or being forwarded to local buyers.
FAQs
Q1: How much heroin was seized and where?
A1: Police recovered 10 soap cases containing roughly 153 grams of heroin during an intelligence-led raid at Phougakchao Ikhai bazar in Bishnupur district, Manipur.
Q2: Who was arrested in connection with the seizure?
A2: The arrested person has been identified as Farida Begum (36), a resident of Terakhongshangbi Gram Panchayat in Bishnupur district. She has been booked under the NDPS (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the probe is ongoing.
Q3: Why do police emphasize soap cases and packaging details?
A3: Packaging (like soap cases) helps investigators identify repeat patterns, link consignments to prior seizures, and trace supply chains — small physical details often provide big leads in narcotics networks.
Q4: Does this seizure indicate cross-border smuggling?
A4: While police investigate supply routes, the Northeast has historically been vulnerable to cross-border trafficking (including from Myanmar). Multiple past seizures in Bishnupur and neighbouring districts indicate transnational supply networks often underpin local distribution.
Q5: What can the public do to help prevent drug trafficking locally?
A5: Citizens can report suspicious movements or packages, support youth outreach and rehabilitation programs, encourage treatment for addicts, and cooperate with police investigations to help authorities map and dismantle wider networks.
