Security forces apprehended three suspected drug smugglers and confiscated 5.89 kg of yaba tablets during a checkpoint operation in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, police reported on Monday, January 12. The arrests occurred after authorities intercepted a vehicle carrying the suspects based on specific intelligence information.
The individuals arrested have been identified as James Baite (28), Hatneikim Baite (50), and David T Mate (41). The value of the seized yaba tablets is estimated to exceed Rs 1 crore in the illegal market, highlighting a significant effort to traffic narcotics through this border area.
Yaba, translating to “crazy medicine” in Thai, is a tablet form of methamphetamine known for its potency as a stimulant. The drug was originally introduced in East Asia during World War II to enhance soldiers’ performance, but it has since become widely abused in several Southeast Asian nations.
Authorities confirmed that further investigations are underway to trace the origin of the drugs and to uncover any possible connections to larger cross-border drug trafficking networks active in the region.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-three-held-with-yaba-tablets-worth-over-rs-1-crore-in-tengnoupal-1329907-2026-01-12?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-01-12 10:35:00
