In the capital city of Imphal, officials announced that security units erased more than 675 acres of illegal poppy fields in the hilly parts of Manipur earlier this month, halting a major opium‑manufacturing scheme worth several crores, the police said on Wednesday.
Yet an aerial survey on 24 November revealed a further 700+ acres of poppy plots only in Kangpokpi district.
A senior police officer explained that between 11 and 23 November, the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, and Manipur Police carried out joint operations that wiped out over 675 acres of illicit poppy cultivation across the state’s six mountainous districts: Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Tengnoupal, and Senapati.
That destroyed acreage had the capacity to produce roughly 4,600 kg of opium, valued at several hundred crores. During these missions, roughly 100 makeshift huts were demolished, and large amounts of salt packets, fertilizers, Roundup herbicide, and irrigation equipment were destroyed or burned.
The officer added that the campaign against poppy farming in Manipur is ongoing.
Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh warned that unchecked poppy growth not only erodes society and drags youths into addiction, but also devastates the state’s forests and environment. In a post on X, he shared footage from his aerial survey and remarked, “See this terrific forest land, once lush and alive, now turned into a desert by poppy planters. 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.”
He emphasized that enormous stretches of woodland were already vanishing under dense poppy cultivation, and that earlier cautions were frequently dismissed. “The truth is now visible to everyone,” he said. “Today, the current administration, together with the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau, Manipur police, and all relevant agencies, is commendably clearing poppy fields across several regions every day.”
The former chief minister further praised the coordinated effort but acknowledged that the challenge remains massive. “Certain areas, like the site shown in this video, demand massive manpower and months of campaigns to eradicate poppy cultivation permanently,” he said. “An aerial survey on 24 November detected nearly 700 acres of poppy fields in the hill ranges of Makhan Village, under Sapormeina Police Station in Kangpokpi. This entire zone lies within the Kanglatongbi Kangpokpi Reserved Forest, near Mount Koubru—a sacred pilgrimage site for indigenous people. The scale of forest destruction and the threat to our cultural heritage are real. Hence, sustained, intensified action is absolutely necessary.”
A Defence spokesperson noted that the rigorous operation against unlawful poppy farming took place in difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions. He highlighted that such crackdowns underscore the steadfast efforts of Assam Rifles and allied forces to curb illicit drug cultivation and dismantle the financial networks that fund insurgency and other anti‑national activities. “This successful operation reaffirms the Assam Rifles’ unwavering commitment to fostering a drug‑free Northeast and contributing to long‑term peace, stability and socio‑economic development in the region,” the statement read.
A senior state official reiterated that, as part of the Manipur government’s “War against drugs”, various security forces, including Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, have, over the years, destroyed hundreds of acres of illegal poppy cultivation on government and forest land.
In 2020, authorities identified a staggering 8,057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1,695 acres were eliminated. By 2024 and 2025, the total identified poppy area had dropped significantly, reflecting the success of the state and Central governments’ multi‑pronged strategy.
State politicians and officials linked the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur and the rising drug problem as key contributors to the current situation.
According to the defence official, the battle against poppy cultivation has remained a consistent priority for the paramilitary force, as borne out by its sustained efforts over the years.
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