Raising serious questions over the enforcement of Manipur’s prohibition laws, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) today intercepted around 60 pieces of luggage allegedly loaded with foreign liquor at Imphal International Airport and handed them over to the police along with 10 persons who had arrived on an IndiGo flight from Delhi.
Acting on what it described as credible intelligence, DESAM members conducted a verification drive at the airport after receiving information that a large consignment of foreign liquor was being flown into Imphal. During the operation, the student body claimed to have recovered nearly 60 bags allegedly containing liquor.
Speaking to reporters, DESAM Secretary in charge of Anti-Drug Abuse, Ningthoukhongjam Nobinchandra, said the seizure exposed the ease with which liquor was being brought into the state despite the prevailing prohibition regime.
Nobinchandra alleged that the 10 individuals claimed the liquor was meant for personal consumption. However, he questioned the claim, saying the volume of the consignment suggested commercial distribution rather than individual use.
The organisation subsequently handed over the seized luggage and the 10 individuals to the police for investigation and legal action.