Huge seizure of narcotic drugs, arrest and conviction of over 128 drug smugglers, destruction of poppy plants went unaccounted; hearing underway for alleged drug kingpin Lukhosei Zou, NAB charge sheeted
IT News
Imphal, Sept. 28:
Rumours and allegations about drug smugglers’ nexus with high profile politicians brings bad name to Manipur catapulting the issue to the International platform with one representative of the foreign NGO Edmund Rice International organisation highlighting allegation about the politicians nexus with the drug smugglers at the United Nations.
Unfortunately, the representative of the NGO, who showed serious concern to the menace of drug didn’t mention a single sentence on the number of drug seized, smugglers arrested and convicted after the Government of Manipur had declared the “War on Drugs” in November 2018.
Narcotic Affairs of Border (NAB), has since been working to make sure that the war on drugs speed up to save the state from the menace of drug. The allegations about alleged nexus with a person arrested in connection with smuggling of drugs with a top politician running the government has been converted into a weapon of politicking, but nobody noticed or even mentioned that the person concern has been in police custody and trial is being underway at the NDPS Court here in Imphal after the NAB authority had charge sheeted against him.
It is upto the Court to decide on the fate of the drug kingpin but using it as a political tool to pen picture Manipur as a notorious drug state will only discourage the state government machineries who have been dedicating to the fight against drug.
According to report, in 2019, after the government of Manipur declared war on drugs, as many as 299 drug smuggling cases had been registered and around 396 persons were detained. Drugs seized in that year are around 18 kg of No. 4 Heroin Powder, 62 Kg of Ganja, 225 Kg of Opium, 2100 Kg of Poppy husk , 69, 622 capsule of Spasmo Proxivion , 112 Kg of WY tablet, 57 Kg of Brown Sugar , 662 Kg of the remnant of processed Opium , 664 litres of Morphinenated Solution , 13000 tablet of N-10, 2500 bottles of Cough Syrup , 2.20 Kg and 10,2512 Tablet of Katamine , 5, 490 tablet of Pseudo-ephedrine , 5,498 Tablets of Pseudo – ephedrine , 3 Kg of Metha –qualone , 45 Kg of Crystal Meth, 90990 tablets of Tramadol , 20 Kg of Meta –amphetamine, etc. Besides, the NAB and security personnel of the state had destroyed poppy plants cultivated at around 2900 acres of land and Ganja cultivated at around 19.51 acres of Ganja.
In 2020 total case registered in connection with drug smuggling was 152 and as many as 222 alleged smugglers were detained. Poppy cultivated at a total of 698 acres of land have been destroyed. The Security force and the authority of NAB have also seized several narcotics and the operations against the drug smuggling are going on.
As many as 6 Drug factories have been destroyed and as many as 128 persons have been convicted after the disposal of 106 cases.
The increase in the arrest and seizure of drugs is an indication of the hard work and dedication of those fighting against the narcotics substances.
Talking to a local TV, NAB SP Watham Basu said that there is no guarantee that the War on drug will get result immediately. It will take time as it is associated with certain factors. It is the collective initiative that can win the war on drug.
He also stated that the war on drugs is advancing. The state is all set to implement the State Drug Policy.
“We have invited suggestions from all individuals and stakeholders and the draft proposal is almost completed”, Watham Basu said while talking to a private channel.
He also mentioned that the state has strengthened certain instruments for speedy trial of those arrested in connection with drug smuggling case.
