Manipur Police Busts Meth Smuggling Ring, Seizes WY Tablets Worth ₹8 Crore
A joint operation by central and state security teams in Thoubal district’s Lilong (Lilong Hangamthabi) led to the arrest of two alleged smugglers — Makakmayum Musharaf (27) and Ruhani (25) — and the recovery of about 2.35 kg of “World Is Yours” (WY) methamphetamine tablets, cash, mobile phones, a walkie-talkie set and other material. Local reporting values the haul at roughly ₹8 crore in the international clandestine market; police have booked the suspects under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2023
When police show up at a modest house in Lilong and come away with multiple kilos of meth and a couple under arrest, it looks like a local success. But in northeast India, drug seizures are rarely just local events — they’re knots in a much larger web of production, transit and demand. This bust in Thoubal is one of a string of coordinated actions across Manipur that suggest law-enforcement pressure is increasing — and that traffickers are still finding routes and buyers. Let’s walk through exactly what happened, why it matters, where these drugs come from, how the market values are estimated (and why they sometimes disagree), and what the next steps should be for enforcement and communities.
The operation: who acted, where and how
According to police briefings and local reporting, a joint team (central and state agencies) acted on specific intelligence and raided a residence in Lilong Hangamthabi, Thoubal district. The operation resulted in:
- Arrest of two persons: Makakmayum Musharaf (27) and Mrs. Ruhani (25).
- Seizure of approximately 2.35 kilograms of WY (methamphetamine) tablets, cash of ₹2,04,800, six mobile phones, three notebooks, multiple identity documents (Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN, driver’s license), a walkie-talkie set, and jewellery items.
- Booking under relevant sections of the NDPS (Amendment) Act, 2023; FIR lodged at Lilong police station.
The Manipur Police’s official social channel also posted details confirming 2.357 kg of methamphetamine tablets and the cash recovery, indicating close parity between media and police figures. Joint operations such as this typically combine local police intelligence with border or central agency support for better coverage and legal robustness.
FAQs (Five Unique Questions & Answers)
Q1: Exactly how much meth was seized and who was arrested?
A1: Reports indicate about 2.35 kg (2.356–2.357 kg) of methamphetamine (WY) tablets were seized from a house in Lilong Hangamthabi, Thoubal district, and two people — Makakmayum Musharaf (27) and Ruhani (25) — were arrested. Official police posts corroborated the quantity and the arrests.
Q2: Why do some outlets say the haul is worth ₹8 crore while others say around ₹1 crore?
A2: Valuation differences stem from whether the source quotes street-level retail prices (which can be much higher) versus wholesale/bulk market prices. Additionally, purity and tablet composition affect value. Media outlets sometimes use different bases for their estimates, producing the apparent discrepancy.
Q3: Were the arrests part of a coordinated crackdown across Manipur?
A3: Yes. The Lilong raid sits alongside several seizures and arrests across districts (Churachandpur, Senapati, Imphal West, Tengnoupal) in a concentrated enforcement push that suggests coordinated intelligence-led operations.
Q4: What charges do the suspects face and what’s the likely legal outcome?
A4: They’ve been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS (Amendment) Act, 2023, which carries stringent penalties for commercial quantities. The final outcome depends on the strength of evidence, forensic reports (confirming composition and purity), chain of custody, and judicial proceedings.
Q5: How can the community reduce the influence of drug traffickers long term?
A5: Communities can help by reporting suspicious activity, supporting addiction treatment and youth engagement programs, pressuring for local job creation, and demanding transparent policing and speedy prosecution. Supply suppression matters, but demand reduction and alternative livelihoods are equally important for durable change.
