Myanmar National Drug Kingpin Arrested in Manipur

In a significant development against transnational drug trafficking across India-Myanmar border, a joint team of Manipur police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested drug kingpin allegedly to be a major drug supplier and a wanted in multiple NDPS cases on Wednesday (July 22) from Manipur’s Churachandpur district.

The individual has been identified as one Nengjatuan alias Tuanpi and was arrested from hotel Venus in Churachandpur district of Manipur during a raid conducted by the joint team.

Manipur police in a statement stated that, “the arrested individual is alleged to be a major drug supplier and is wanted in multiple NDPS cases registered with NCB, DRI and Manipur Police.”

A separate statement issued by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) stated that the arrested individual is a ‘drug kingpin’ and a resident of Haichin, Chin State, Myanmar and a Myanmar-based transnational drug trafficking syndicate.

The statement further stated that “The arrest follows months of intelligence development, technical surveillance, coordinated interstate operations and sustained investigations, underscoring NCB’s strategy of targeting the leadership of transnational drug trafficking networks rather than merely intercepting individual consignments.”

Investigation has established that he was one of the principal international suppliers operating from Chin State, controlling a trafficking network that routed Methamphetamine and Heroin through Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura for distribution across different parts of India and Bangladesh, the statement added.

The accused is wanted in multiple NDPS cases registered by NCB and other Drug Law Enforcement Agencies. He is the principal accused in three NCB cases involving seizures of approximately 28.22 kg of Methamphetamine tablets and 1.278 kg of Heroin, valued at over ?25 crore. He is also linked to seven other NDPS cases registered by Churachandpur Police, Singngat Police and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The investigation has established that the syndicate operated through a well-organised network of international suppliers, cross-border couriers, transport coordinators, local facilitators, receivers and financial handlers. The syndicate has so far been linked to seizures of Methamphetamine, Heroin and proceeds of crime collectively valued at over ?53 crore.

Financial investigations are continuing to identify additional proceeds of crime, assets and other members of the network. Over the past several months, NCB has systematically dismantled the syndicate through a series of intelligence-led operations resulting in the arrest of several key members, including carriers, receivers, transport coordinators and local facilitators operating across Manipur and Assam.

Among those arrested are Abdullah Ahmed of Silchar, Assam, who functioned as the principal receiver and coordinator of consignments entering Assam; Lalthlamuong Pulamte of Churachandpur, Manipur; Nengultinkhum Hrangngul of Pherzawl, Manipur; and Paominlen Munlo of Churachandpur, Manipur, the suspected receiver in a major Methamphetamine seizure, besides several other associates involved in transportation, storage and distribution of narcotic consignments.

Their interrogation, corroborated by technical surveillance, digital evidence and financial investigation, enabled NCB to identify and apprehend Nengzatuan @ Tuanpi as the principal Myanmar-based supplier directing the syndicate from across the international border.

The arrest of Nengzatuan @ Tuanpi follows the earlier arrests of Lalhmingsanga in March 2026 and Thancintuang @ Chintuang @ Tluanga in May 2026. These successive operations reflect NCB’s sustained network-centric enforcement strategy of dismantling entire transnational drug trafficking syndicates by targeting their international suppliers, financiers, coordinators, logistics providers and other key members of the criminal network.

The arrest marks another significant milestone in NCB’s sustained offensive against organised drug trafficking networks operating along the India–Myanmar border. NCB remains committed to disrupting and dismantling transnational drug trafficking syndicates through intelligence-driven investigations and close coordination with national and international law enforcement agencies.

Members of the public are encouraged to share information relating to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and illicit trafficking through the MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra) National Narcotics Helpline – 1933 or the MANAS portal. Every credible input strengthens enforcement efforts and contributes to protecting society from the menace of illicit drugs.