Imphal, September 23: Manipur Police, in coordination with the Forest Department and local village authorities, uncovered large-scale illegal poppy cultivation in Senapati district during an aerial surveillance operation on Tuesday.
The drone-assisted survey was carried out at Upper and Lower Khabung villages under Senapati Police Station. Officials found nearly 13 hectares of forest land cleared for poppy cultivation, with several patches already sown with the crop.
Following the detection, police issued a stern warning to the Chairman of Khabung village, directing immediate destruction of the sown poppy and prohibiting any further cultivation in the area.
Authorities said the operation reflects an intensified anti-narcotics enforcement strategy, with drones now being deployed to detect hidden poppy fields in remote and inaccessible terrain.
