Imphal, January 15, 2026: In a strong move against narcotics, security forces, in coordination with the forest department and district administration, destroyed a total of around 55 acres of illegal poppy fields in Manipur over the past week, officials said.

On Wednesday, January 14, a combined team of security forces, forest department officials, and an executive magistrate uprooted and destroyed about 15 acres of poppy fields at the Lungphu Hill Range, Phungyar Police Station area, Kamjong district, Manipur Police said in a statement on X. The operation is part of the state government’s ongoing “War on Drugs” initiative, aimed at curbing large-scale illegal poppy cultivation, especially in the hilly regions.

Earlier, on January 9, acting on intelligence inputs regarding narcotics cultivation, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with the CRPF and Manipur Police, carried out a joint operation in the Ngatan Hill Range of Kangpokpi district. During the operation, security forces destroyed around 40 acres of poppy fields and 11 temporary huts used for processing and storing narcotics.

Authorities said these efforts are part of a broader crackdown across Manipur’s hilly terrain, where illicit poppy cultivation has long been linked to narcotics trafficking and criminal networks. Officials stressed that uprooting the poppy fields is not only aimed at dismantling illegal drug supply chains but also at promoting safe and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

While operations have largely been peaceful, authorities acknowledge that past drives have occasionally met resistance from villagers, highlighting the complex socio-economic factors underlying poppy cultivation. The state government has urged local communities to cooperate and take advantage of alternative crop programs promoted by agriculture and rural development departments.

Manipur Police reiterated their commitment to continue targeted anti-narcotics operations, sending a clear signal that illegal poppy cultivation will not be tolerated in the state.