Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Manipur Police have apprehended two individuals, including a woman, and recovered nearly two kilograms of suspected morphine during a targeted anti-narcotics operation in Churachandpur district.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a team from Churachandpur Police Station, assisted by women personnel, carried out coordinated raids at separate locations in T. Khonomphai Village on Tuesday morning. The operation resulted in the arrest of Hoineilhing (32) and Chinneivah (25), both residents of the village.
Officials said the substance recovered during the raids is suspected to be morphine, a narcotic compound that serves as a key precursor in the production of heroin. The drug has long been associated with substance abuse and related public health challenges in Manipur.
According to police sources, the operation was part of an ongoing drive to dismantle local drug trafficking networks and curb the illegal narcotics trade in the region. Authorities have intensified enforcement measures in recent years amid concerns over the proliferation of narcotic substances and their impact on communities.
The state government has imposed strict restrictions on the unauthorised possession, sale and transportation of morphine and other narcotic drugs. Law enforcement agencies continue to conduct regular crackdowns against individuals and groups allegedly involved in trafficking activities.
Officials noted that efforts to combat the drug menace also include the destruction of illegal poppy cultivation sites and sustained action against drug syndicates operating in different parts of the state.
While the illicit trade of morphine is prohibited under law, authorities clarified that the drug can be legally used for specific medical purposes, including pain management and palliative care, subject to strict regulatory approvals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Further investigation into the case is underway.