Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Federal agents and police dismantled a massive cross-border drug and hawala network on October 23. The crackdown spanned 38 locations across Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur. Law enforcement arrested 18 suspects and froze 1,424 bank accounts linked to illicit money transfers. The operation targeted the trafficking of heroin, brown sugar, and methamphetamine tablets moving from Myanmar into India and Bangladesh.
The Enforcement Directorate and Narcotics Control Bureau coordinated the raids. Agents seized 500 detonators and 12 lakh rupees in cash. Officials also attached assets worth 26.01 crore rupees according to the ED, though other official reports cited 17.82 crore. The network allegedly operated through the Death Triangle Corridor. The porous 1,643-km border remains a primary vulnerability. Drugs cross the Tiau river near Zokhawthar before heading toward National Highway 6A.
Front businesses and mini-ATM counters helped move the cash. Mule account holders admitted to renting their bank access for 500 rupees per lakh. This obscured the money trail. The operation uncovered hawala transactions totaling 100 crore rupees. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the strike as a move toward the 2029 goal of eliminating narcotics networks.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh backed the ongoing pressure. He praised the federal response to the crisis. "Manipur stands firmly committed to the mission of a Drug-Free India and Drug-Free Manipur, safeguarding our youth and securing a healthier future," Singh stated on social media. Agents continue to pursue leads in the region to prevent further shipments.
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