Imphal: Thoubal district police have arrested two alleged drug traffickers and seized a large quantity of suspected illegal pharmaceutical drugs along with Rs 16.43 lakh in cash, believed to be proceeds from the narcotics trade, during raids carried out over the past 48 hours.
Police said the operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs. A team first raided the residence of Syed Anish Shah (46) at Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi Ubakthong Makha, where officers recovered 144 Spasmo-Proxyvon (SP) capsules and Rs 16,43,750 in cash suspected to be linked to drug trafficking.
Based on information gathered during Shah’s interrogation, the police carried out a follow-up raid at Khekman Makha Leikai and arrested Asem Somanda Singh (46). During the search, officers seized 324 strips of Samplex+, 126 strips of Spasz+ and 30 bottles of Tussrex-TR. Police said Singh failed to produce valid documents authorising possession of the pharmaceutical drugs.
Both accused have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and handed over to the concerned police station for further investigation.
Police said the operation forms part of the ongoing campaign against the illegal trade in prescription medicines, which continues to pose a major challenge in Manipur. Drugs such as Spasmo-Proxyvon, originally intended for medical use as pain relievers and antispasmodics, are frequently abused for their opioid-like effects, contributing to substance dependence and addiction, particularly among young people.