Manipur: In a major breakthrough in Manipur during the ongoing fight against narcotics smuggling in the North-Eastern region, a high-stakes joint operation named “Operation White Veil” was executed between June 5 and June 7, 2025 by a coordinated team of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs Department, 17 Battalion Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police. The targeted operation took place in the sensitive Churachandpur District of Manipur, located along the porous Indo-Myanmar border.
Massive Seizure of Drugs and Cash
The operation led to the seizure of 7,755.75 grams of heroin, valued at approximately ₹54.29 crore, and 6,736 grams of opium, estimated to be worth ₹87.57 lakh in the international grey market. In addition to the narcotics, a significant amount of unaccounted cash totaling ₹35.63 lakh, two Baofeng walkie-talkies, and one Maruti Eeco van used in drug transport were also confiscated. Five persons have been arrested and are currently being prosecuted under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act).
Timeline and Highlights of the Operation
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June 6, 2025 (Early Morning): Acting on precise intelligence, the joint team discreetly followed two suspects traveling in a Maruti Eeco Van near Behiang Village, close to the Myanmar border. Their movement led the authorities to a house in Thadou Veng, Singngat Sub-Division, which was searched.
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Inside the residence, officials recovered:-
219 soap cases filled with heroin
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8 packages and 18 tin cans of opium
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Cash worth ₹7,58,050
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2 Baofeng walkie-talkies
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One individual was apprehended on-site, while two others fled but were successfully intercepted at Bualkot Check Gate.
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Follow-up Action: A subsequent raid on the house of one of the arrested suspects in Behiang Village led to the recovery of two more opium packages and additional cash of ₹28,05,000.
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June 7, 2025: Based on further inputs, two suspects carrying improvised manpacks were intercepted near Zoukhonuam Village (BP 46). Upon inspection, their bags contained 440 soap cases of heroin, further adding to the haul.
Inside the residence, officials recovered:Smuggling Route and Modus Operandi
Preliminary investigations suggest that the narcotics were smuggled from Myanmar into India via forested and unguarded sections of the international boundary with Manipur. The Churachandpur District, due to its strategic and remote terrain, has long been exploited by narcotics syndicates for trafficking operations.
Despite the logistical and terrain-based challenges, the synchronized efforts of the law enforcement agencies ensured a seamless and impactful operation, further demonstrating the government’s zero-tolerance stance on narcotics smuggling.
Legal Action and Future Implications
All arrested individuals are being prosecuted under the NDPS Act, which mandates stringent punishment for drug-related offences, including rigorous imprisonment for up to 10 years. Authorities have indicated that follow-up investigations are underway to dismantle the entire supply chain and trace the financial and logistical network behind the operation.
Manipur Government’s Commitment
This operation reaffirms India’s commitment to maintaining internal security and drug-free borders, especially in the vulnerable North-Eastern region. With a growing emphasis on inter-agency cooperation, the government continues to invest in intelligence sharing, surveillance technologies, and grassroots operations to combat the drug menace.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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