Ibobi urged to sign deal with Myanmar on drug smuggling

A civil organisation in Manipur Tuesday said if an agreement was entered with Myanmar government for working together towards curbing cross border drug smuggling menace during Manipur chief minister’s proposed visit to Myanmar, the visit would be a meaningful one.

A high level State delegation led by state chief minister Okram Ibobi was likely to visit Saigang division of Myanmar in the latter part of May in an effort to strengthen trade relationships between the two countries through Manipur and other northeastern states of the country. 

The chief minister O Ibobi was scheduled to visit the neighbouring country to attend a seminar on May 28 at Mandalay that would deliberate on issues concerning development of surface transport network to link South East Asian countries with Manipur as well as discuss means to enhance trade potential in the region.

All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA), in a statement, observed that the drug smuggling has become a big issue in Manipur when even personnel of the law enforcing agencies like the police department were involved in the recent cases of drug smuggling in Manipur.

If the chief minister brings up the matter and signs an agreement to work together between the two countries, the visit would be a meaningful one and people would be thankful to the chief minister, the statement asserted.

According to media reports in Imphal, the chief minister was likely to be accompanied by commerce and industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, education minister M Okendra and top department officials.

The state chief minister has got a formal invitation from the chief minister of Saigang division of Myanmar U Thar Aye which was provided through the Union ministry of home affairs.

On the sideline of the seminar that would be followed by a buyers-buyers meet Ibobi was likely hold a meeting with his Saigang counterpart Thar Aye.