On June 5-7, 2025, a joint operation ("Operation White Veil") conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police in the Churachandpur District of Manipur resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash totaling approximately Rs. 55.52 crore. Authorities confiscated 7,755.75 grams of heroin (worth Rs. 54.29 crore), 6,736 grams of opium (worth Rs. 87.57 lakh), and Rs. 35.63 lakh in cash. Two walkie-talkies and one vehicle were also seized. Five individuals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Preliminary investigations suggest the drugs were smuggled from Myanmar through the Indo-Myanmar border.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: The government ministry responsible for finance.
Rs. 55.52 crore: The total value of drugs and cash seized in Indian Rupees.
Manipur: A state in the North Eastern Region of India where the joint operation took place.
DRI: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, a law enforcement agency involved in the joint operation.
Customs: Indian Customs department, involved in the joint operation.
Assam Rifles: A paramilitary force involved in the joint operation (specifically, 37 Bn Assam Rifles).
Manipur Police: The state police force of Manipur, involved in the joint operation.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi, the source of the press release.
North Eastern Region: A region in India where the smuggling and trafficking of contraband drugs is being combatted.
Operation White Veil: The codename for the special operation carried out in Manipur.
Churachandpur District: A district of Manipur bordering Myanmar, where the operation took place.
7,755.75 grams of heroin: Quantity of heroin seized during the operation.
Rs. 54.29 crore: The estimated value of the seized heroin in Indian Rupees.
6,736 grams of opium: Quantity of opium seized during the operation.
Rs. 87.57 lakh: The estimated value of the seized opium in Indian Rupees.
Rs. 35.63 lakh: Amount of cash seized during the operation in Indian Rupees.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: The law under which the five arrested persons have been charged.
Maruti Eeco Van: Type of vehicle seized during the operation.
Myanmar: Neighboring country bordering Churachandpur District.
Behiang Village: Village bordering Myanmar.
Thadou Veng: Location of the residential house in Singngat SubDivision.
Singngat SubDivision: Location of the residential house in Manipur.
Rs. 7,58,050: Amount of cash recovered from the house in Indian Rupees.
Bualkot Check Gate: Location where two suspects who escaped were intercepted.
Rs. 28,05,000: Amount of cash recovered from residential house in Behiang Village in Indian Rupees.
Zoukhonuam Village: Village near BP 46 where two persons carrying manpacks were intercepted.
BP 46: Border Post 46, near Zoukhonuam Village.
IndoMyanmar border: Border between India and Myanmar.
NDPS Act: Abbreviation for the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
NBKMN Release ID: 2135121: The identifier for the press release
Ministry of Finance
Drugs and cash of around Rs. 55.52 crore seized in
Manipur during a joint operation by DRI, Customs,
Assam Rifles and Manipur Police; Five arrested
Posted On: 09 JUN 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi
Continuing the battle against the smuggling and trafficking of contraband drugs in the North Eastern Region,
a special operation codenamed “Operation White Veil” was carried out in the bordering areas of
Churachandpur District of Manipur on 5-7 June by a Joint Team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
(DRI), Customs, 37 Bn Assam Rifles and the Manipur Police.
The joint team of officials seized 7,755.75 grams of heroin worth Rs. 54.29 crore and 6,736 grams of opium
worth of Rs. 87.57 lakh in the international grey drug market, along with cash of Rs. 35.63 lakh. Two
Baofeng Walkie-Talkies and 1 Maruti Eeco Van have been seized and five persons arrested under the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Five persons were also arrested in the operation.th
In the early morning hours of 6 June 2025, two suspects on a Maruti Eeco Van at Behiang Village bordering
Myanmar were discreetly pursued, leading to a residential house at Thadou Veng in Singngat Sub-Division.
On searching the house, 219 soap cases containing heroin and eight packages & 18 small tin cans containing
opium were recovered along with two Baofeng Walkie-Talkies and cash amounting to Rs. 7,58,050. While
one person was apprehended from the house, two other persons, who escaped, were intercepted at Bualkot
Check Gate. In a quick follow-up action, the residential house of one of the accused persons located at
Behiang Village was searched and two packages containing opium and cash amounting to Rs. 28,05,000
recovered.
Acting on further inputs received during the operation, two persons carrying improvised manpacks were
th
intercepted at Zoukhonuam Village near BP 46 on 7 June 2025. Search of the manpacks resulted in the
recovery of 440 soap cases containing heroin.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the seized contraband drugs were smuggled into the bordering areas of
Churachandpur District from Myanmar through the porous forested Indo-Myanmar border. Inspite of the
challenges and difficulties, a well-coordinated action by the law enforcement agencies led to the successful
operation. The NDPS Act prescribes stringent punishment to offenders which may entail rigorous
imprisonment upto ten years.
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NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2135121)