Biren credits people for War on Drugs success

Imphal: Altogether 719.25 kg of contraband Ganja, 940 gm of Brown Sugar, 18.7555 kg of Heroin Powder, 87 kg of WY tablets (Methamphetamine), and 20 kg of Crystal Ice (Methamphetamine) will be disposed of at the earliest.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh said this on Wednesday highlighting the state’s achievement of the War on Drugs. He was addressing reporters at his secretariat, here.

The chief minister credited the general public for all the achievements and development in the government’s War on Drugs campaign and said without the untiring support and positive response of the public, the government alone couldn’t have achieved all the success.

“With the formation of the new government, we have witnessed tremendous success in the War on Drugs campaign. Since April 20, the state has been able to seize illegal drugs worth Rs 182 crore 29 lakhs and 43 thousand in the international market and at the same time destroyed 380 acres of poppy cultivation in the state,” Biren said.

​He said what is even more encouraging for the campaign is that on May 6, the Poumai tribe which is the second-largest tribe of the Nagas in Manipur declared its areas under a drug-free zone and to stand against poppy plantations. On May 9, leaders and CSOs of the largest Naga tribe, Tangkhul submitted a resolution to support War on Drugs and to stand against poppy plantations.

Biren highlighted the resolutions supporting the War on Drugs campaign submitted by different CSOs including Inpui, Liangmai, Ronmei and Zeme tribes on May 12, village chiefs of Saikul AC, Tengnoupal and Chandel on May 14.

Citing reports of destroying illegal drugs by youth and womenfolk in the valley, the chief minister said the momentum against drugs is also building up in the valley area.

“Today we can see support and cooperation from almost all communities residing in the state,” he said adding that for the first time in February 2021, in support of the War on Drugs, a village in Ukhrul, Peh (Paoyi) Village voluntarily destroyed poppy cultivation in their area, for which the village was rewarded with Rs 10 lakh. Now  reports have been received that the villagers have already started alternative cropping and some plantations like ginger have already begun production, he added.

All these are encouraging, he said thanking everyone for their support and at the same time expressing hope that the collective campaign will start bearing fruit in the nearest future.

Regarding the arrest of so-called drug kingpins in the state, the chief minister said several drug traffickers have been arrested and named a few including one Monkhai, 19, from Myanmar. He said anyone convicted and lodged in jail for 14-15 years in drug-related cases is all kingpin.