Imphal: Senapati district police have arrested two alleged drug trafficking suspects in separate operations across Manipur in connection with three cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The arrests were made on October 24, 2026, with assistance from the police in Kangpokpi and Bishnupur districts. According to officials, the two men had been absconding for a considerable period and were allegedly linked to an interstate drug trafficking network extending from Manipur to Rajasthan.
The first accused, identified as 21-year-old Roman Rai, son of Dhanlal Rai, was apprehended within Kangpokpi district during an operation conducted by a specialised police team with assistance from the district police.
The second suspect, 35-year-old Amit Kumar Thapa, son of Dilip Kumar Thapa, was arrested in Bishnupur district in a joint operation involving local police units. A court had previously issued a non-bailable warrant against him after he allegedly evaded arrest.
Investigators suspect that the two men played a role in connecting poppy cultivators in Manipur with drug distributors operating in Rajasthan.
With the latest arrests, the total number of people apprehended in connection with the three cases has risen to seven. Preliminary questioning has led investigators to suspect that the two men may have acted as common suppliers in all three cases.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish the extent of the alleged trafficking network, identify other individuals involved and trace the supply chain connecting Manipur with other parts of the country.
The latest arrests form part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to tackle drug trafficking in the region. Further investigation is expected to shed light on the network’s operations and the roles of other suspected members.