NCB–Assam Rifles destroy 110 acres of illicit poppy fields in Manipur’s hill districts

Imphal: A joint team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), state forest officials, and Police successfully destroyed approximately 110 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in the northern hill ranges of two districts - Kangpokpi and Senapati.

The coordinated efforts led to the destruction of the illegal crop, valued at approximately Rs 55 lakhs in the clandestine regional drug markets.

According to the official reports issued on Friday, the joint team destroyed approximately 103 acres of poppy cultivation in the hill ranges of Koubru and the surrounding area under Kangpokpi-PS, Kangpokpi district.

A total of 30 huts, 17 bags of fertilisers, 37 herbicide packets, 13 bags of salt, and other cultivation equipment found at the plantation sites were destroyed by setting them on fire.

Officials stated that an aerial survey conducted recently showed nearly 700 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in the Kangpokpi district.

The joint team in the second phase of anti-narcotics operations across vulnerable zones also destroyed approximately 6 acres of poppy cultivation in the hill range of Ngamju under the Purul police station in Senapati district. However, no arrests were made, but different cases have reportedly been registered.