Manipur: Smuggler arrested 184 kg Ganja Seized on NH-37
On Wednesday (September 3, 2025), police at the Keithelmanbi check post on National Highway-37 in Manipur intercepted a truck and seized 184.13 kg of ganja, arresting Khomdram Deben Meitei (43) of Nambol Lourembam Maning Leikai, Bishnupur district. Officers confiscated the Tata truck and the driver’s mobile phone. The accused has been remanded to police custody while investigators pursue leads and initiate proceedings under India’s NDPS law.
It’s a lifeline that links Imphal with Assam via Jiribam, making it the key supply artery for fuel, food, and medicines heading into Manipur. That lifeline status is precisely what makes NH-37 attractive for smugglers—and why police watch it like hawks.
This week, that vigilance paid off. Officers at the Keithelmanbi check post stopped a truck and discovered 184.13 kg of ganja stashed inside. One person—Khomdram Deben Meitei, 43—was arrested on the spot. Along with the contraband, police seized the vehicle and a mobile phone, and a case has been registered. Investigations are ongoing, with the accused in police custody
FAQs
1) What exactly counts as “commercial quantity” for ganja in India?
For ganja, the government-notified commercial quantity is 20 kg. Anything at or above that is treated as commercial, drawing the strictest penalties.
2) Why is getting bail so hard in cases like this?
Because Section 37 of the NDPS Act sets twin conditions—the court must see reasonable grounds that you’re not guilty and that you won’t re-offend—and the prosecutor gets to oppose bail. In commercial-quantity cases, those conditions are hard to satisfy early on.
3) Is NH-37 really that important to Manipur?
Yes. It’s a critical supply line connecting Imphal with Assam via Jiribam, often called the state’s lifeline. When it’s blocked or disrupted, everything from fuel to food gets affected.
4) Has there been a similar ganja seizure on this corridor recently?
Yes. In late July 2025, authorities seized about 220 kg of ganja near the Manipur–Assam border, underscoring the corridor’s continued vulnerability and the intensity of enforcement.
5) Did the NDPS law change recently?
Parliament passed an NDPS amendment in 2023 to correct drafting issues and improve the legal framework’s clarity. Though the core quantity-based punishment structure and strict bail norms remain, the amendment is part of ongoing NDPS fine-tuning.
