Drug Kingpin Arrested in Manipur

In a move that will impact the international narcotics trade via Moreh, the Manipur police have successfully nabbed Haji Basleuddin. Basleuddin, who also goes by the aliases of Md. Masle and Masleuddin, was arrested by Narcotics Affairs and Borders (NAB) police for his involvement in the trade of No. 4 Heroin and WY or Yaba. The 63-year-old had his first case registered against him in 1988 for a deadly assault. His operation spans from Nepal to Myanmar and includes Bangladesh as well as some other South East Asian countries.

Basleuddin had evaded arrest for years due to the stiff resistance his gang members put up every time the police got close to nabbing him. He ran his business with his son, Md. Syed Ahmed, who managed to evade an arrest in the current raid. Apart from the drug trade, the police allege that he also has links with arms-trafficking as well as gold-smuggling and vehicle theft. The current raid was the result of investigations following an April raid where a retired DSP was arrested. The retired DSP had also served in the NAB. For their part, the NAB had contacted the NCB and the Delhi Police to ask for their aid in the investigation. This certainly explains the magnitude of Basleuddin's operation.

The two drugs, which his gang had specialised in trafficking, are both known to be produced in Myanmar. Heroin No. 4 is the water soluble injectable variant of heroin. Whereas, WY or Yaba is a methamphetamine laced with caffeine. The two drugs have been a cause for concern across South East Asia and have even played a role in sparking Bangladesh's 'drug war'.

According to reports, Basleuddin was the drug kingpin in Manipur. His arrest will certainly affect the current trafficking for a while until new channels are opened and a new kingpin is born. It is likely that since his son has managed to evade the arrest, he may revive the operation. No matter how many raids are carried out, the problem is still the production of the narcotics. That there are those in the Myanmar government and army complicit in protecting the drug trade has been established. Unless international pressure mounts on Myanmar to crack down on drug manufacturing, the trade is unlikely to take a big hit. On the other hand, since most of the manufacturing is done in the rebel-held territory, the Myanmar government may not be so willing since these 'rebels' are mostly ceasefire groups.