Poppy plants destroyed in anti-drug drive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2012: Continuing with its campaign against poppy cultivation in the State which is being carried out together with different organisations, Narcotic and Affairs of Border (NAB) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) destroyed vast tract of poppy plants cultivated at Khallong hill slopes on Nongmaiching hills today.

Today's drive against poppy cultivation was led by NAB SP Amir Lal Sharma and it was participated by personnel of NAB, NCB Imphal unit, 7th IRB, Imphal East District Police and other volunteers.

Poppy plants cultivated over 300 acres were destroyed during the drive.

Speaking to media persons who covered the poppy destruction drive, SP Amirlal Sharma said that they carried out the poppy destruction drive on receiving specific information about extensive cultivation of poppy plants in some areas of Nongmaiching hills.

As poppy plants are cultivated in interior areas where security forces have difficulty in moving in, it remains a challenging task to destroy poppy cultivations, Amirlal said.

In view of the remoteness of the areas where poppy is cultivated , poppy destruction drives were carried out together with armed security personnel.

Counting the poppy plants destroyed today, around 1500 acres of poppy cultivations have been destroyed by NAB, NCB and other agencies this year.

In the course of this campaign, poppy plants cultivated over extensive areas in interior areas of Ukhrul, Chandel and Churachandpur have been destroyed.

Saying that similar poppy destruction drives would be carried if there is any information about poppy cultivation, SP Amirlal said that opium obtained from poppy plants is exported to Myanmar at Rs 15000 per Kg.

If the opium is processed into heroin, one kilogram of this substance cost around Rs one crore in the international market.

The Government has been more paying attention to tackling insurgency problems while the issue of drugs has not been given due attention it deserved.

As such, NAB has been facing acute shortage of manpower as well as infrastructure like vehicles and weapons.

NAB has only three Gypsy's and one mini-truck.

As armed groups are also involved in drug smuggling, NAB personnel too need weapons, Amirlal added.

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