₹55.52 Crore Worth of Drugs and Cash Seized in Manipur During “Operation White Veil”; Five Arrested
Manipur: In a significant breakthrough against drug trafficking in the North Eastern region, a joint operation codenamed “Operation White Veil” was successfully conducted from 5th to 7th June 2025 in the bordering areas of Churachandpur District, Manipur. The operation was carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs, 37 Bn Assam Rifles, and the Manipur Police.
During the high-risk, cross-agency operation, the team seized 7,755.75 grams of heroin valued at ₹54.29 crore, 6,736 grams of opium worth ₹87.57 lakh, and unaccounted cash totalling ₹35.63 lakh. Additionally, two Baofeng Walkie-Talkies and a Maruti Eeco van were confiscated. Five individuals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The operation began in the early hours of 6th June, when two suspects traveling in a Maruti Eeco van were tracked to a house in Thadou Veng, Singngat Sub-Division. A search yielded 219 soap cases of heroin, opium in eight packages and 18 tin cans, and ₹7.58 lakh in cash. One individual was apprehended at the scene, while two others attempting to flee were captured at Bualkot Check Gate. A subsequent raid at Behiang Village led to the recovery of additional opium and ₹28.05 lakh in cash.
On 7th June, acting on fresh intelligence, officials intercepted two individuals near Zoukhonuam Village (BP 46) carrying improvised manpacks. A search led to the discovery of 440 soap cases of heroin, further highlighting the scale of the smuggling network.
Preliminary findings indicate that the contraband originated from Myanmar and was smuggled across the porous Indo-Myanmar border into Manipur. Despite operational challenges in the difficult terrain, the coordinated effort of the enforcement agencies resulted in a major success.
The Ministry reaffirmed that the NDPS Act imposes strict penalties, including rigorous imprisonment of up to ten years, for such offenses.
