Manipur Steps Up War on Drugs, Destroys 110 Acres of Illegal Poppy Cultivation
Security forces in Manipur have destroyed around 110 acres of illegal poppy cultivation across three hill districts, with the potential to yield opium worth an estimated Rs 3.3 crore, officials said on Thursday. The operation is part of the state government’s ongoing “War on Drugs” campaign to curb illicit poppy cultivation in the hill regions.
According to police, a joint team comprising security forces, the Forest Department and an executive magistrate destroyed 15 acres of poppy fields at the Lungphu Hill Range under Phungyar police station in Kamjong district on January 14, 2026. Kamjong district shares a border with Myanmar.
Earlier, on January 13, the team demolished 30 acres of poppy fields at the Sadim Hills Range under Senapati police station in Senapati district, which borders Nagaland. On the same day, another operation led to the destruction of 65 acres of poppy fields at the Govok Hill Range under Chakpikarong police station in Chandel district, which also shares a border with Myanmar.
During the operations, security personnel found and destroyed two temporary huts, along with poppy pods and seeds. No arrests were made at the sites. Police said cases have been registered at the concerned police stations, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved in cultivating and owning the land.
Officials noted that one acre of fully grown poppy cultivation can yield about 25 kg of raw opium. At government-fixed rates, this can fetch between Rs 45,000 and Rs 87,500, while the net profit per acre is estimated at around Rs 30,000, with the overall illegal market value being significantly higher.
Authorities said such coordinated operations will continue as part of the state’s intensified drive against narcotics to dismantle illegal drug networks and protect forested hill areas.
