675 acres of poppy cultivation destroyed

Imphal, Nov 26
As part of the ongoing anti-narcotics crackdowns, security forces have destroyed more than 675 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur’s mountainous districts this month, effectively foiling a large-scale attempt to manufacture opium worth several crores, officials said on Wednesday.
However, an aerial survey on November 24 detected over 700 additional acres of poppy plantations in Kangpokpi district alone, they said.
A senior Police official said that the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Manipur Police, in separate joint operations, have destroyed more than 675 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur's mountainous districts between November 11 and 23, effectively foiling an attempt to manu- facture opium worth several crores.
The illegal poppy cultivation was destroyed in Manipur’s six mountainous districts--Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chan-del, Tengnoupal and Sena- pati.
A senior police official said that 486 acres of destroyed illegal poppy cultivation had the potential to yield around 4,600 kg of opium, worth several hundred crores of rupees. During the operations, the security forces destroyed around 100 huts found at the sites of illegal poppy cultivation in six districts. A large number of sacks of salt packets, huge quantities of fertilisers, several Roundup herbicides, a few spray pumps and pipes used in poppy cultivation were destroyed and burnt.
The official said that such operations against the illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur will continue.
A Defence Spokesman said the intensive operation against the unlawful poppy farming was conducted under challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions, and the crackdown highlights the unwavering efforts of Assam Rifles and other forces to curb illicit narcotics cultivation and dismantle the financial networks that fuel insurgency and other anti-national activities. This successful operation reaffirms the steadfast commitment of the Assam Rifles towards fostering a drug-free North East and contributing to long-term peace, stability and socio-economic development in the region, an Assam Rifles statement said.
A senior official of the State Government stated that as part of the Manipur Government's "War against Drugs", various security forces, including Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, over the years have destroyed hundreds of acres of illegal poppy cultivation on Government and forest lands.
In 2020, the security forces and the Government agencies identified a staggering 8,057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1,695 acres were destroyed. By 2024 and 2025, the area of identified poppy fields had declined significantly, reflecting the success of the State and Central Governments and security forces' multi-pronged strategy, the official said.
State politicians and officials said that the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur, along with the rising drug menace, is one of the major causes of the current situation.
According to the defence official, the battle against poppy cultivation has been a consistent priority for the paramilitary force, as reflected in its sustained efforts over the years.
Meanwhile former Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that an aerial survey conducted on November 24, 2025, detected nearly 700 acres of poppy cultivation in the hill ranges of Makhan village, under Saparmeina police station in Kangpokpi district.
In a social media post accompanied by aerial footage, the former Chief Minister pointed out that the affected area falls entirely within the Kanglatongbi-Kangpokpi Reserved Forest and lies close to the sacred Mount Koubru, a site of profound religious significance for the indigenous people of Manipur.
Saying that the once-lush forest has been turned into a “desert” by poppy planters, N Biren Singh reiterated his earlier warnings about the expansion of the infamous Golden Triangle drug corridor into Manipur through large-scale poppy cultivation.
"Many people did not believe our Government when we warned that the deadly drug corridor, the so-called Golden Triangle, was expanding towards India through Manipur. Vast stretches of forest had already begun to disappear under mass poppy cultivation, yet these warnings were often ignored. Today, the truth is visible to everyone," he wrote.
The present Government, along with the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, NCB, Manipur Police and all other concerned authorities is doing commendable work by destroying poppy fields across multiple regions every single day, he said and added that  their coordinated effort deserves full appreciation.
However, N Biren stated that certain areas require huge manpower and month-long campaigns to eradicate poppy cultivation permanently. He added that an intensified action is absolutely necessary against poppy cultivation. The Hans India