Major Drug Bust! Rs 88 Crore Meth Seized in Imphal and Guwahati

In a significant blow to drug trafficking, authorities seized methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 88 crore and arrested four members of an international drug cartel in operations spanning Imphal and Guwahati. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the breakthrough on Sunday, praising the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for its meticulous efforts and reaffirming the government’s unrelenting stance against narcotics.

The seizures, executed across Manipur’s Imphal and Assam’s Guwahati zones, underscore a dual "bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom" investigative approach that Shah hailed as a model of success. “No mercy for drug cartels,” he declared on X, emphasizing the Modi government’s commitment to a drug-free India. The haul, likely smuggled from Myanmar given the region’s proximity and trafficking patterns, reflects the ongoing challenge of synthetic drug influx in India’s Northeast.

This operation follows a string of high-profile busts, including a Rs 60.63 crore methamphetamine seizure in Mizoram earlier this month by Assam Rifles and local police. Shah’s statement signals intensified efforts to dismantle cartels, with the NCB leveraging intelligence and coordination with regional forces. The arrested quartet’s links to a broader international network are under investigation, spotlighting the global dimensions of India’s drug fight.

The Rs 88 crore consignment’s street value highlights the lucrative trade fueling addiction and crime, a priority target under Modi’s vision. Shah congratulated the NCB, noting, “Our hunt for drugs continues,” as authorities brace for further action. With Northeast India a known corridor for methamphetamine from the Golden Triangle, this bust marks a critical step in curbing supply lines, though experts warn the battle against cartels remains far from over.