Manipur Chief Minister Reports Shift in Drug Trafficking Routes

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh says drug trafficking routes shifted after the 2023 ethnic violence. Smugglers now favor Mizoram as a transit corridor. Smaller shipments still flow through Moreh. These loads travel toward Churachandpur using roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana before reaching distribution points in Kwakta.

Addressing the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Imphal, Singh noted the crisis has ballooned. Drugs were once the preserve of the wealthy. Now they are everywhere. He warned that nearby areas like Moirang, Kumbi, and Thanga face rising vulnerability. Civil society groups in Kwakta told the Chief Minister that nearly 70 per cent of local youth use drugs. Peddlers often supply these narcotics on credit to lower barriers for new users.

Robert Singh Kshetrimayum, Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department, highlighted the heavy toll on families. He pointed out that many addicts are under twenty years old. Peer pressure and curiosity drive the cycle. The Commissioner stated, "Drug addiction not only destroys individual lives but also devastates families."

Singh pushed for sports as a primary defense against addiction. He wants local clubs and citizen groups to unite against the trade. Private rehabilitation centers and the Welfare Association of Blind, Manipur submitted formal pleas for help during the event. The government aims for a collective push to clean up the streets.