Manipur CM says drug traffickers shift routes and adopt creditshift routes and adopt credit policy amid unrest
Drug traffickers in Manipur altered their routes and began selling drugs on credit after the ethnic conflict erupted in May 2023, according to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on June 26, 2026.
Smugglers diverted operations to Mizoram as the unrest continued, using credit policies to push consumption during the troubled period. This development highlights how ethnic conflict can inadvertently fuel drug abuse by disrupting security and enabling illicit networks to exploit crisis conditions.
Manipur Government
Manipur government officials describe the new drug trafficking patterns as a direct consequence of the ethnic conflict, noting that traffickers exploited the crisis by offering drugs on credit to boost consumption during troubled times.
Regional Observers
Regional observers view the diversion of smuggling routes to Mizoram as evidence of how armed conflict disrupts local security, creating opportunities for illicit networks to expand their operations across state borders.
- Manipur and Mizoram share a 500-kilometer border in northeastern India, making it easy for smugglers to cross between states.
- The credit policy for drugs is a known tactic used by traffickers in conflict zones to increase user dependency when cash is scarce.
- Manipur has faced significant ethnic violence since 2023, displacing thousands and weakening local law enforcement.
