Ganja worth Rs 1,911 crore destroyed, narcotics valued over Rs 2,331 crore seized

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has achieved a historic milestone under the ‘Nasha Mukt Odisha Abhijaan’ campaign, destroying illegal ganja cultivation worth Rs 1,911 crore and seizing narcotics valued at over Rs 2,331 crore.

At a special event held at Police Bhawan here, DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania reaffirmed the force’s commitment to building a drug‑free, safe, and empowered Odisha. He announced that the State government has approved four dedicated NDPS courts in Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Anugola, and Sambalpur to ensure speedy trials.

Khurania revealed plans to form an Anti‑Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) led by an ADGP‑rank officer, with ten operational units and nineteen intelligence cells across the state. Each year, at least 100 major drug traffickers will face strict action under the NDPS Act.

Between July 2024 and March 2026, police destroyed over 63,720 acres of illegal ganja cultivation and seized 421 tons of ganja worth Rs 2,106 crore, arresting 3,502 accused. In Koraput, police raided a ganja‑oil unit, confiscating 1,800 litres of oil worth Rs 225 crore and arresting four key suspects from Kerala.

The STF also arrested two members of an interstate drug‑smuggling gang active in Kandhamala, Boudhagada, and Sonepur. Odisha Police aims to destroy 80 tonnes of ganja, 11.4 kg of brown sugar, and 3,638 bottles of cough syrup worth Rs 410 crore at seven approved incineration centres.
Meanwhile, awareness drives were held in all 35 police districts, involving over 25,000 citizens, 4,882 students, and 337 teachers pledging for a drug‑free society.

“Our fight against narcotics will intensify. With technology, public cooperation, and strong resolve, we will build a drug‑free, secure, and empowered Odisha,” Khurania stressed.