IMPHAL | Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has reiterated his government’s commitment to building a drug-free state following Operation Trident, a coordinated crackdown on an alleged international narcotics network operating across Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.

Congratulating Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the agencies involved in the operation, Singh said the state remained committed to the wider mission of building a “Drug-Free India and Drug-Free Manipur”, with a focus on protecting young people from substance abuse and securing a healthier future.

“Manipur stands firmly committed to the mission of a Drug-Free India and Drug-Free Manipur, safeguarding our youth and securing a healthier future,” the chief minister said in a social media post while sharing Shah’s statement on the operation.

The crackdown was conducted on October 23, when central agencies and police forces carried out simultaneous searches at 38 locations across the three northeastern states.

According to Shah, the operation resulted in the arrest of 18 people and exposed alleged hawala transactions worth ?100 crore. Authorities also froze 1,424 bank accounts, attached properties valued at ?17.82 crore, seized 500 detonators and recovered ?12 lakh in cash.

Alleged cross-border narcotics network under scanner

Shah said the alleged network was involved in trafficking narcotics across the borders of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh through what he described as the “Death Triangle Corridor”. The scale of the operation points to an investigation extending beyond the seizure of narcotics, with financial transactions, bank accounts and properties also coming under scrutiny.

The freezing of bank accounts and attachment of assets form part of the action against the alleged financial infrastructure supporting the network. However, the allegations against those arrested remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.

Shah described Operation Trident as a major strike against drug trafficking and reiterated the Centre’s target of eliminating drug networks by December 31, 2029. He also commended the central agencies and police forces of Assam, Mizoram and Manipur for coordinating the operation across state boundaries.

Manipur’s drug-control challenge

Singh’s statement comes amid the state government’s continuing efforts to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse in Manipur. The chief minister has placed the protection of young people and the prevention of narcotics-related harm among the stated priorities of his administration.

The operation also highlights the importance of inter-state coordination in tackling alleged trafficking networks that exploit regional transport routes and cross-border connections.

With financial links and suspected trafficking channels under investigation, the effectiveness of the crackdown will depend on whether authorities can establish the alleged network’s operations, identify its wider connections and secure convictions through the legal process.

The state government has reiterated its commitment to the drug-free mission, while Operation Trident has brought renewed attention to the challenge of dismantling narcotics networks operating across the Northeast.