Manipur police arrested a village chief on drug-related charges and destroyed a large poppy cultivation zone in two separate operations carried out across Kangpokpi district, officials said on November 24.

A joint police team detained Lunkhohao Kipgen, 43, Chief of Gunphaibung village under Saikul police station, during a raid at Bongmoul village on November 23. Authorities recovered 986 grams of opium and a mobile phone from his possession. Police stated that the arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on local narcotics networks.

In a separate operation a day earlier, security forces—assisted by the Forest Department and the Narcotics Control Bureau—conducted a major poppy destruction drive in the hill ranges of Kotlen village under the jurisdiction of Kangpokpi police station. The team cleared approximately 41 acres of illegal poppy cultivation.

During the exercise, personnel also demolished 23 makeshift huts and seized nine bags of fertiliser, 11 packets of herbicide, four bags of salt, and various cultivation tools.

Officials described the two operations as a major setback to illegal opium production in the district and reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying anti-drug enforcement efforts.