Narcos Manipur: Dark nexus of drugs, terror, and power

Manipur's transformation into a narcotics hotspot has been both rapid and alarming. Traditionally a transit state for heroin smuggled from Myanmar, it has evolved into a major producer of synthetic drugs.

- SAVIO RODRIGUES

The globally acclaimed series Narcos peeled back the layers of the narcotics trade in Colombia and Mexico, exposing the corruption, terror, and intrigue that fuelled the empires of Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel. If the creators of Narcos were to turn their lens eastward, to Myanmar and the troubled Indian state of Manipur, they would uncover a story as gripping and terrifying as any in their archives.

Manipur, nestled in India's northeastern frontier, is more than just a scenic border state. It is a key cog in the Golden Triangle's narcotics trade-a deadly network linking Southeast Asia's drug-producing regions to global markets. The region's story is one of unimaginable wealth, human suffering, and a battle for control that fuels terrorism and corruption on both sides of the border.

In one of the largest drug seizures in the region, Indian authorities intercepted 5.5 tonnes (5,500 kg) of methamphetamine from the Myanmarese fishing boat Soe Wai Yan Htoo. Valued at Rs 6 crore per kilogram, the haul was worth an eyewatering Rs 33,000 crore.

This seizure highlighted the sheer scale of the narcotics business and the sophistication of the networks operating out of Myanmar.

Methamphetamine, also known as "meth" or "ice," is becoming the drug of choice in the Golden Triangle. It's easier to produce, transport, and conceal than traditional narcotics like heroin. With porous borders and limited enforcement capabilities, Manipur has emerged as a critical transit and production hub in this deadly trade.

Manipur's transformation into a narcotics hotspot has been both rapid and alarming. Traditionally a transit state for heroin smuggled from Myanmar, it has evolved into a major producer of synthetic drugs.

Clandestine labs have been discovered across the state, with one raid in 2020 uncovering 435 kg of brown sugar in a makeshift laboratory.