According to data shared by the Odisha directorate of excise, officials have conducted several raids and seized ganja and brown sugar worth Rs 83 crore from April to August during the current financial year.
There is a growth of 110 per cent in the seizure of NDPS ( Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) till August against the seizure of such substances in the same period of last financial year 2021-22. During April to August 2021, NDPS material worth Rs 39.49 crore was seized.
The seizure of ganja and brown sugar has increased by 132 per cent and 191 per cent, respectively. While 9874 grams of brown sugar were seized this year against 3392 grams last year till August, the state has seized 21,690 kg of ganja till August this year against the seizure of 9,339 kg last year.
The registration of NDPS cases has increased from 243 till August '21 to 739 till August this year, registering a growth of 204 per cent.
While 295 persons were arrested in these NDPS cases till August of 2021-22, the number of arrests also increased to 865 in such cases till last month this fiscal.
The detection and seizure of NDPS cases increased due to regular monitoring by excise commissioner Ashish Kumar Singh and strong enforcement activities, said an official.
To further strengthen enforcement, vehicles are being provided to each range office, he said.
In the meanwhile, taking a cue from the Uttar Pradesh police, the Odisha police has started demolishing the illegal structures/homes of the drug mafiosi.
The twin city commissionerate police on Saturday demolished the house of Ranju Nayak, a drug trader and an accused in a murder case.
"We have launched an operation White Spider to check the drug menace in the capital city. Under the operation, almost every day we are seizing drugs and making arrests," said Manas Ranjan Garnaik, ACP (zone 1), Bhubaneswar.
As drug trader Ranju had constructed the house illegally and used it in the drug trade, the house was demolished, he said.
Earlier, the police had bulldozed the grocery shop of a man who was peddling brown sugar in the Nayapalli area of Bhubaneswar.
Besides, the police also seized the entire property of drug mafias. Following the request of the Odisha police, the competent authority under the NDPS Act has confiscated property worth Rs 6 crore, including gold jewellery worth Rs 4.5 crore, of notorious drug don Rajanikant Patnaik from Khallikote in Odisha's Ganjam district.
In another instance, the court has ordered the forfeiture of properties worth over Rs 3 crore owned by two ganja smugglers in the same district.
He informed the investigating sleuths that he is a gold merchant. Again he changed his statement saying he is cashew seller. Police, meanwhile, have intensified investigation to get into the root of the money.
Excise IIC, Hrudaya Chandra Samanta, said, “Ahead of Dussehra that sees a spurt in marijuana smuggling cases, our department has intensified raids by blocking roads. We seized a huge chunk of money from a passenger while checking a bus named Binapani and informed Excise Commissioner.
We handed over the accused and the seized money to Baidyanathpur inspector in-charge. His statements varied every time. Truth will come out during interrogation.”
On August 10, Excise department sleuths had recovered 20 gold biscuits and Rs 1.22 crore while searching for marijuana from three gold merchants at Lanjipalli under Baidyanathpur police limits in Ganjam district late Tuesday night.
Two gold traders of Bada Bazaar and one from Maharashtra were caught by the sleuths while they were planning to do business without paying GST. Meanwhile, police have detained the trio to extract more information from them.
According to sources, the Excise department sleuths every day block National Highway passing through Ganjam as part of their measures to curb marijuana smuggling.
Acting on a tip-off about smuggling of marijuana through the route, the Excise inspector detained a vehicle having Mumbai registration number and recovered Rs 1.22 crore from a vegetable bag and an air bag. To their utter surprise, they got 20 gold biscuits from the carrier.
Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M said, “Last month a similar kind of incident had taken place in which police had seized rupees to the tune of crores. During investigation it came to fore that the accused were gold merchants. We will do investigation in this case and reveal its details shortly.”
Avinash Sahu, a resident, said, “Berhampur is business hub. Strict action should be taken against those for tax evasion.”
The FSSAI issued a notification on November 15, 2021 stating, “The hemp seed, hemp seed oil and hemp seed flour shall be sold as food or used as an ingredient in a food for sale, subject to conforming standards.”
The hemp seed and its products can only be sold as food or used as an ingredient in a food for sale subject to conforming to the standards laid out by the food regulator.
Hemp or Cannabis or Ganja is widely cultivated in the southern parts of Odisha illegally. It is a major source of income for the tribals who sell the leaves to ganja smugglers and middlemen for a paltry sum of money who on the other hand sell them as a narcotic substance to end users at a premium cost earning handsome returns.
As per reports, the Odisha government destroys hundreds of hectares of illegal ganja cultivation every year in districts like Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri with the help of the Excise department and the Police, because the Maoists or Naxals sell it to fund their activities of violence against the establishment.
While some in Odisha have long been advocating in support of cannabis farming, some on the other hand are dead against it.
Former Member of Lok Sabha and senior BJD leader Tathagat Satapathy is one of the many who has been supporting hemp farming for the larger benefit of the small and marginal farmers.
Speaking to OTV, Satapathy said, “I am really sorry to say that Odisha government still has not understood the benefits of it. It would have been a great boon for the small farmers and would have brought a revolution in farming. I hope the government legalises its farming without further delay.”
On the other hand, Dr Pradeep Mohapatra, Director of State Food Safety Commission said, “There are two variants of hemp plants; one is non toxic and the other one is not advisable to be used as food. In Odisha it is rare to find hemp plants that can be used as food source.”
Similarly, former Excise Commissioner Sudarshan Nayak said, “The prospect of hemp farming and commercialisation of it is non-viable. The farmers have to cultivate thousands of hectares of cannabis in order to make substantial profits out of it, which is impractical.”
A drug of herbal origin, hemp is being extensively used by Ayurvedic physicians to treat various diseases and lifestyle disorders, as it shows great results if administered correctly. As a branch of medicine, Ayurveda recognises the use of cannabis leaves in the manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines.
Speaking about its medicinal properties, Sasmita Das, an Ayush Doctor said, “Doctors have been prescribing cannabis derived drugs for quite some time. They are useful in relieving pain.”
With the entry of Hemp seeds in FSSAI, more and more companies will enter the hemp space, adding to the ever-growing global hemp industry. In the coming years, many food products containing hemp seeds and hemp seed oil will enter the space and increase the availability across the food industry, giving consumers various choices of healthy foods. Believing the industry forecasts, the Hemp industry worldwide is moving towards a groundbreaking graph of potential in the next five years.
According to sources, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted a truck near Chandaka area which was transporting ganja worth Rs 9 Lakh from Andhara Pradesh to Bihar. Around, 44 packets of the contraband item were seized, though the driver managed to escape from the spot.
Sources informed that the truck owner and the transport agency officials have been summoned by the DRI sleuths for further investigation.
In another incident, officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) arrested a youth on charges of peddling brown sugar.
The youth identified as Munna Sethy was nabbed near Khandagiri.
Munna has reportedly confessed that he used to procure brown sugar from Khurda and sell it in the city.
The cost of the seized narcotics substance is estimated to be around Rs 7 lakh. The brown sugar was recovered from the possession of one Ganesh Panda who has been arrested while further investigation in this connection is on.
Earlier this month, officials of the Excise department had seized 60 gms of brown sugar worth nearly Rs 6 lakh after a raid in Cuttack.
On December 10, brown sugar weighing 70 grams worth nearly Rs 10 lakh was seized from Khandagiri area in Bhubaneswar. Two drug peddlers were also arrested by the excise department officials.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of district excise and central Intelligence officials conducted a raid at Bhaliabadi area near New Bus Stand in the district. During the raid, the excise sleuths seized 76 gram brown sugar, 2.5 Kilograms ganja and cash worth Rs 5,100 from one Sarojini Sahu's house.
Later, Police arrested Sarojini and forwarded her to the court.
"We were tracking them since a long time, and finally we succeeded in nabbing them," said Excise Intelligence department inspector, Jagdish Chandra Samal.
However, two persons who were transporting the contraband item were able to escape.
Sources said that the ganja was being smuggled to Madhya Pradesh from Papulara of Chirtakonda.
Speaking to media, Chitrakonda Police Station Sub-inspector, Seshadev Behera said "The car did not stop when we intercepted it. It rather changed direction and moved faster. Police followed up the car and subsequently seized the car and found ganja inside."
Meanwhile, Chitrakonda Police has lodged a case regarding the same and investigation is underway.
Two persons -including driver of the vehicle Muktikanta Nayak and his associate Rehman Khan have been arrested in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off, Khantapada police intercepted an Innova car heading towards Balasore from Sunabeda in Koraput and recovered the huge cache of narcotics.
"The accused were travelling with the consignment of contraband for a client in Balasore. Close to 2 quintals of cannabis were seized when the officials intercepted the vehicle midway," informed B Jugal Kishore, Balasore SP.
"We have also arrested two persons. Further investigation is on," added the SP.
Acting on a tip-off, the QAT intercepted a Skoda car illegally smuggling ganja in the city. While the alleged mastermind, Bulu Patnaik fled the spot, one Seikh Ahmed has been arrested, informed sources.
Ahmed, during interrogation, admitted that they smuggle ganja from Phulbani in Kandhamal district to several parts of the State.
On March 22, police had seized about 120 kg ganja that was being transported to Kolkata from Bhubaneswar and arrested eight persons.
The Ganja peddlers used a unique modus operandi to run the racket and they used to bring Ganja from Southern Odisha, particularly Phulbani and sell the contraband in various local markets and well as outside the State.
The accused have been identified as Basudev Parida, 34, native of Begunia and S. Manoj, 29, S. Mohan, 30, both residents of Karnataka.
The police said the cost of ganja was around Rs 3000 per kilogram in the state while its rate multiplied 10 times in Karnataka for which the gang used to smuggle the narcotics from Odisha.
Also Read: Cops bust sex racket in Bhubaneswar run by UP woman
To give the cops a slip, they used to transport the Ganja in luxurious cars having private numbers and keep cumin powder in the vehicles.
The gang used to threaten people by brandishing gun and even give bribe to escape from their clutches, police said.
https://youtu.be/qdFgzJBZPO8
According to sources, a special police team raided one Salima Bibi's house in Sekhbad village under Jaleswar block at around 6pm today morning and seized more than 20 grams of brown sugar, the cost of which was estimated to be around Rs 2 lakh.
Later, the police raided another person, Gopal Singh's house in Karihanda village from whom they were able to seize 50kg Ganja worth nearly Rs 50,000.
According to police sources, both the accused have been arrested and taken to Balasore for further investigation.
Acting as per the directions of Balasore Excise Department, a team comprising Sadar Excise Inspector Karunakar Tiwari, Sub-Inspector Haraprasad and other police personnel raided the houses of the two accused and seized drugs in large quantity.
"A special team was formed to raid various places in the Jaleswar area. Two persons were arrested from two different villages. Around 20 gms of brown sugar was seized from Salima Bibi's house in Sekhbad village, while 50 kg ganja was seized from Gopal Singh’s house in Karihanda village. Both of them have been arrested and are being taken to Balasore,” said Tiwari.
https://youtu.be/SMr__WXZ5KQ
The arrested were identified as car owner Basant Mohanty of Naha village in Keonjhar district and Nilakantha Hansa, a student, of Tikabali area of Kandhamal district.
The excise squad nabbed the two near the Kathajodi bridge when the two were transporting the contraband items to other states via Jaleswar after bringing it from Tikabali area of Kandhamal. The Excise officials said several cases have been registered against the owner of the vehicle.
Recently on October 21 , BSF jawans had seized a mini truck loaded with 610 kg Ganja worth Rs 1.2 lakh near Sunki in Koraput district and handed the same over to Pottangi police.
Acting on a tip off, the officials raided suspected spots in the city and seized about 35 kg of ganja worth around Rs 5 lakh from four peddlers.
The arrested have been identified as Rajeev Digal, Jashobant Digal, Nabaghan Digal and Susant Bindhani. The officials also seized a car used by the peddlers.
Official sources said the traders used to transport Ganja from the city and sell them in various parts of Bhubaneswar and its nearby regions.
Further investigation is on to trace the middlemen and other members of the racket.
Police detained 28 persons in connection with the case.
Investigating officials said, the locals are being interrogated, adding the involvement of an inter-state ganja racket can’t be ruled out.
Acting on a tip off, a special team of the district police led by SDPO raided the Badaguda forest and seized the bags which were transported by the locals on their shoulders. Police said, to elude vigilant eyes of the police, the locals used wooden poles to carry the bags in a traditional manner.
Police is assessing quantity of the seized contraband.
Earlier this month over 12 quintals of ganja worth Rs 50 lakh were seized by the excise officials on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The seizure was made during a raid at Kalibati area on National Highway 16 under Jankia police limits in Khurda district.
Police had arrested two persons and seized a pick-up van during the raid.
The ganja bags seized during the illegal trafficking were brought to the District Excise office premises while five persons hurt in the collision were admitted to the Bhawanipatna hospital. Later, four out of the five injured undergoing treatment at the hospital went missing.
By the time the State Excise staff reached the spot, the truck driver and helper had managed to flee.
Pramod Banua, ASI of the State Excise department, said, “The truck, which was being chased by our staff, hit the Bolero vehicle while overtaking it.”
Two were involved in Ganja smuggling while three others were arrested for trading brown sugar in separate incidents in the city.
The brown sugar smugglers were doing illegal business at Gandhi road area under Plant Site police station. Police have seized around 19-gram contraband from them.
Three others were arrested for supplying ganja at Power House Road in the city. Around 17 kg ganja has been seized from their possession. A number of cases are pending in different police stations in the city, additional SP Bikram Keshari Bhoi said
“We have arrested two ganja smugglers identified as Bibek Mohanty, Mahesh Mohapatra and seized 16.928 kg ganja from them. Two mobile phones and Rs 1500 cash have been recovered from them. The duo will be forwarded to court today,” he said.
“In the seizure of brown sugar, we have arrested three persons identified as MD Ali Hussain, Sonu Sarkar and MD Afsar. Brown sugar weighing 18.32 grams has been recovered from them. The estimated value of the seized contraband would be around Rs 1 lakh,” the additional SP said.
Two mobile phones and Rs 9000 cash have been seized from them. They will also be forwarded to court today, he added.
Earlier in 2018, the Plant Site Police had arrested a woman drug peddler and seized the contraband from her worth Rs 2 lakh with over Rs 1 lakh cash. The woman identified as Nuresa Khatun was doing the business in the same locality.
The seized ganja weighed about 3 quintal and is estimated to be around Rs 1.5 crore, informed an official of Machhkund PS.
Acting on a tipoff, the Machhkund police officials intercepted the truck transporting the banned contraband at Lamtaput and seized the ganja-loaded truk.
However, the driver of the truck reportedly managed to flee the spot.
Earlier on September 4, a flying squad of excise department had raided a house at Naupur village under Nandipada police limits in Keonjhar district and seized ganja worth Rs 10 lakh.
The studies showed that sex differences in response to cannabis are not just socio-cultural, but biological too.
The findings showed that men are up to four times more likely to try cannabis and use higher doses, more frequently.
"Male sex steroids increase risk-taking behaviour and suppress the brain's reward system which could explain why males are more likely to try drugs including cannabis," said Liana Fattore, Senior Researcher at the National Research Council of Italy.
"This is true for both natural male sex steroids like testosterone and synthetic steroids like nandrolone."
But despite lower average cannabis use, women go from first hit to habit faster than men.
In fact, men and women differ not only in the prevalence and frequency of cannabis use, pattern and reasons of use, but also in the vulnerability to develop cannabis use disorder.
"Females seem to be more vulnerable, at a neurochemical level, in developing addiction to cannabis," Fattore explained, in the paper published in the journal Frontiers in behavioural Neuroscience.
"As a result, the interactions between the endocannabinoid system and the brain level of dopamine -- the neurotransmitter of "pleasure" and "reward" are sex-dependent."
The inconsistency of conditions in these studies greatly complicates interpretation of an already complex role of sex hormones in the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid sensitivity.
However, the human data so far is consistent with the idea that oestradiol regulates the female response to cannabinoids.
As in animals, human males and females are diverse in their genetic and hormonally driven behaviour and they process information differently, perceive emotions in different ways and are differently vulnerable to develop drug addiction.
"Blood levels of enzymes which break down cannabinoids fluctuate across the human menstrual cycle, and imaging studies show that brain levels of cannabinoid receptors increase with ageing in females -- mirroring in each case changes in oestradiol levels," Fattore said.
But is ganja really that bad? Are there no redeeming features? Is there a case for lifting the ban on ganja imposed since 1985 that has been flouted with impunity?
Before you crucify me for voicing these questions, please listen to what Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent of CNN, has to say on the issue. In an essay on the CNN website under the title “Why I changed my mind on weed” on August 9, 2013, Dr. Gupta actually ‘apologizes’ for an article “Why I would vote No on pot” in Time magazine four years before. “I apologize because I didn’t look hard enough, until now. I didn’t look far enough. XXX I mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Agency listed marijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof. Surely, they must have quality reasoning as to why marijuana is in the category of the most dangerous drugs that have "no accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse." They didn't have the science to support that claim, and I now know that when it comes to marijuana neither of those things are true. It doesn't have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works.” Surely, Dr. Gupta could not have been ‘high on marijuana’ while writing this!
You don’t even have to go by what Dr. Gupta says. Just google it and you will get to read the findings of several peer reviewed scientific papers that bust some popular myths about this recreational drug; ganja is highly addictive (it is not), it is an unmitigated disaster for the human body and could even kill the user in the long run. While it is true that overuse/abuse of pot can indeed mess with your memory and emotions, its medicinal uses have forced doctors worldwide to change their views about it. In an article published on April 21, 2014, Business Insider lists no less than 23 ‘benefits’ of ganja. Among other things, it can control epileptic seizures and stop cancer from spreading. According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2013, marijuana helps metabolism in the human body. Contrary to the popular belief that marijuana is disastrous for the lungs, another study published in the same journal found that it actually does the exact opposite by reversing the carcinogenic effects of tobacco and ‘improving’ lung health. No wonder the illogical ban on marijuana is being revisited worldwide. In US, marijuana is now legal in some form or the other in 46 states while recreational use is legal in 10 of them. Among countries, Uruguay was the first to legalise marijuana in 2013 and several countries have followed suit or are planning to do so.
The irony of it! Even as state after in the USA is legalising marijuana, India, which criminalised its possession and consumption with the passing of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 primarily under US pressure, continues to have the ban in place. But it hasn’t made a difference on the ground and weed smokers continue to get their stuff – and smoke it too - without too much hassle, making a mockery of the ban. Even more ironical is the fact that government policy continues to promote the sale and consumption of liquor, which has been scientifically proved to be much more harmful and addictive than the former.
Mercifully, there has been a concerted move of late to get the ban lifted. Union minister Maneka Gandhi and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor have batted strongly for allowing medicinal use of marijuana while our very own Tathagat Satpathy have been at the forefront of the campaign to allow its recreational use.
India has a long history of marijuana use, both for medicinal and recreational purposes. Atharva Veda lists Cannabis Sativa (its botanical name) among the five most ‘sacred’ plants that liberates humans while it is regarded as the penicillin of ayurveda.
With the scriptural prescription now backed by scientific evidence, it is about time the government of India considered lifting the irrational ban on ganja.
(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same).
And the alarming fact is there are few jingled consumers in State as Odisha figured among the top-10 States in country where the boozers need medical or psychiatric intervention for alcohol-related problems.
According to a Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment report titled 'Magnitude of Substance Use in India - 2019', Odisha figured as 17th top alcohol consuming state among the 36 states and UTs in the country. A high of 31.8 per cent of population in the age-group of 10-75 years in the State are current alcohol users.
But the shocker is when it comes to people needing health/psychic intervention over alcohol related problems, the State breaks into the 'high' top-10 league. Odisha finished 8th, where 21 lakh alcohol consumers urgently need such interventions, revealed the Union Ministry report.
More lethal fact to fore is, in the indicator of prevalence of alcohol disorders in 10-75 years age-group, Odisha again figured in the dubious 'high' ten states. The Survey revealed that nearly six per cent in Odisha show such symptoms.
Though the Union Ministry report put both the IMFL (Indian made Foreign Liquor) and strong Beer as the top favourites of boozers nationally, a glance at the data available with State Excise department revealed that it's the Beer that is the favourite in Odisha.
In the year 2018-19, the provisional figures pegged the liquor consumption in Odisha at around 1,300 lakh litres. The per capita alcohol consumption has now grown to around 3-4 litres vis-a-vis of mere 700ml in 2001-02. And when beer consumption had grown four-fold, the IMFL grew only by 3-times during the period. Sources in Odisha liquor retailers association put the per capita beer consumption in State at around 2 litres.
A district-wise glance reveals that the State Headquarters Khurda topped the beer/IMFL binge-chart in the State. And Ganjam is giving a close-chase to Khurda.
Sources revealed that Kalahandi and Bolangir are emerging as new 'spirited-up' districts in the State. The liquor consumption is racing up fast here, it added. As per State Excise department data, in overall liquor consumption, including country spirit, Mayurbhanj and its surrounding districts topped the State.
An interesting fact here is, incidentally, Mayurbhanj topped the State in rapes for decades.
The Union Ministry Survey has thrown light on Odisha's 'addiction' with other narcotic drugs like cannabis (Ganja) and Opioids like opium and synthetic drugs.
As per the survey, with around 4.9 lakh Ganja users in the age-group of 10-75 years needing medical intervention or counselling, Odisha figured third in the country. The State is behind Punjab and UP.
And with regards to opioids, the State again has made it into the dubious - 10 with 3 lakh persons in the age-group of 10-75 years needing interventions.
Though the State Government in 2016 has formed a committee to look into substance abuse, the findings or recommendations to curtail alcohol/narcotics use is not available in public domain. In contrast, the liquor outlets have grown to 4,000 from 3,500 in 2014-15. State agencies, like police & excise department, activities were seen limited to destroying hemp cultivation.
Even, the National Capital Region (NCR) now banks on Odisha for requirement of such 'high' weeds. Recently, Delhi Police busted a drug peddler racket by making a seizure of over Rs 1 crore cannabis. And investigations revealed that the seized quantity of cannabis were sourced from Rayagada in Odisha. This is not the first instance. Many such eye-opening home-truths have been popping out since the year 2015.
As per the data available with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bhubaneswar Sub-Zone, over 40,409 kg of cannabis were seized in Odisha in 2018. Top NCB sources put the seizures in the first six months of 2019 at around 21,100kg.
How rapidly the cannabis trade is growing in Odisha is reflected well from the fact that the seizures in 2013 were a paltry1,506 kg, though the high seizures also point at the active trail being maintained by the anti narcotic units in the State like NCB and State police.
Senior NCB sleuths here revealed that cannabis transit route from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh passes through Odisha border up to Andhra Pradesh. Existence of such a nexus became amply evident when recently seven persons belonging to Uttar Pradesh were arrested on charges of smuggling ganja from Koraput. Earlier, State police had also seized few SUVs registered in MP and Chhattisgarh on charges of carrying ganja.
"Nepalese cannabis accounts for around one-third of the Indian drug market. But the dependence on Nepalese weed has been on the wane as traffickers from Bihar in order to escape police dragnet are now sourcing cannabis and hashish (resinous product of cannabis) from Odisha for the NCR markets," disclosed a senior NCB official here.
At the same time, the big worry for the State is the massive surge in cannabis trade and the easy money amassed are being routed for the firearms business in the State. It is these firearms dealers who supply weapons and ammunitions to the left wing ultras and organised crime gangs in the State.
The State crime record Bureau data shows that of around 30 odd firearm crimes last year, investigations revealed all firearms used were unlicensed ones. This has a grave portend on the State's law and order, informed a senior police official.
Alarmed at the emerging challenge, NCB and State police are engaged in intensive crack downs on the cannabis and opium cultivators. Every year the agencies are destroying nearly around 3,400 acres of cannabis. Still the trade is flourishing in Odisha.
Police sources attributed the rise in the 'high' weed trade to financial support from inter-State drug producer rackets. The police have found clear leads that show traders from other States financing the local narcotic substance producers here, revealed a top police official and added that in order to crack the whip on drug mafia in Odisha, like Jharkhand, it's time to set up special purpose police stations for narcotic substances here. Such dedicated units will go a long way in convicting the drug syndicates in Odisha.
The total cultivation spread over an area of 76 acres was torched by the police personnel. R Udayagiri SDPO Ashok Kumar Mohanty said that the drive will continue and awareness would be created among local people to help police check the illegal cultivation.
Ganja cultivation has become rampant in the cut-off areas as two days back, the Adava Police along with Excise and Forest department officials torched ganja cultivation on around 62 acre of land near Antaraba panchayat of Gajapati district. While the estimated value of the torched narcotics item was stated to be Rs 12 crore, police said a probe is underway to identify the cultivator.
On Thursday, Boudh Police conducted a raid against illegal cultivation of cannabis plants at Tilpanga under Manamunda police limits and destroyed 139875 number of cannabis plants spread in a huge area.
Sources said, following a directive from the Ganjam District Collector, a joint team comprising Ganjam DSP, Aska SDPO, Excise officials of Sorada, Forest officials, officials of Aska, Dharakote, Sorada and Badagada police stations reached Khajuripadar village today to destroy illegal ganja cultivation on around 50 acre of government land.
The villagers opposed the move and tried to stop the officials from destroying the marijuana plantations. Instead, they asked the officials to shut the nearby liquor shops before destroying the hemp plantations.
Following stiff opposition from villagers, ganja cultivation in only a few acres could be destroyed during the drive.
“The villagers earn huge profits from illegal ganja cultivation on government land. The cannabis is smuggled to places like Berhampur, Aska, Bargarh and outside the state to Surat and Bihar,” said Additional SP of Excise Department, Abhiram Behera.
On the other hand, Dharakote Tehsildar, Koresh Jani appealed villagers to adopt agriculture for livelihood instead of illegal ganja cultivation.
https://youtu.be/c38h771XVP0
Acting on a tip-off about ganja cultivation, the cops along with excise officials conducted raids at two forests near Pakadei and Dadaganda villages under Bilabadi panchayat and destroyed hemp plantation on around 150 acre of farmland.
Sources said two platoons of cops led by IIC of Pulbani Sadar Police and excise officials were engaged in the drive. As many as 50 locals were also roped in to assist the police and excise officials in destroying the cannabis.
Crackdown On Cannabis!
Ganja cultivation on around 150 acres of land in Bilabadi area of #Kandhamal district destroyed by Phulbani Sadar Police & excise officials; estimated value of the destroyed cannabis trees assumed to be Rs 15 crore #Odisha pic.twitter.com/dXW7yYDNFI
— OTV (@otvnews) November 26, 2019
Earlier on November 19, Odisha government had made it clear that farmers will not be given permission for hemp (cannabis/ganja) cultivation stating that the practice would continue to remain illegal in the State.
Special task force sleuths also arrested Surjit of Hisar in this connection, they said.
The accused was nabbed by the STF team near Sampla road, Jhajjar by-pass area while acting on a tip off, the police said in a statement here.
During checking of the four-wheeler, police found 50 bags of the contraband weighing 1,000 kg, they said.
Paint and thinner were loaded in the vehicle in order to hide the contraband, they added.
During preliminary interrogation, it was revealed that the seized contraband was being supplied from Odisha to Hisar, the police said.
Along with Surjit, three of his aides, Ram Mehar, Anil and Sube Singh, were involved in the smuggling, the officials said.
A case under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered and efforts were being made to nab the other accused, police said.
(PTI)
Acting on an intel about the smuggling of the prohibited narcotics, officials of Vishakhapatnam DRI on Wednesday intercepted the goods carriage vehicle bearing registration number- OD 02 BD 4155 and an escort car bearing registration number- OD U 7223 near NAD Junction.
Later, the officials searched the goods carriage vehicle and found 40 bags concealed under a load of banana stalks. The bags were stuffed with 800 packets of brown packets containing ganja. The DRI officials also arrested four persons for their involvement in the transportation of the cannabis.
Sources said, the contraband consignment was loaded in the vehicle near Narsipatnam on February 26 and handed over to the driver near Anakapalle the same day. The contraband item was reportedly procured from Vishaka agency area and was being transported to Bhubaneswar.
The said item was detained under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Meanwhile, the DRI has also seized the vehicle and further investigation into the case is on.
As per reports, the accused duo, identified as Paul Pani and Anugraha Lima of Ranalai village in R Udaygiri of the district, was heading to Berhampur with the consignment yesterday when they were intercepted by a police patrolling team near Kalameri.
Later, the cops conducted a search of the vehicle and seized the ganja.
“Our patrolling team raided the vehicle and recovered 13 sacks stuffed with over 391.4 kg of marijuana and arrested the two youths. They were transporting the cannabis to Berhampur from where they would have transported it to outside states,” informed Mohana Police Station IIC Sujit Kumar Nayak.
A case has been registered at Mohana Police Station in this connection and the two accused will be forwarded to the court today, the police official added.
Earlier in July, over 10 quintals of ganja was seized from an onion-laden truck between Chandiput and Luhagudi area of Gajapati district and two persons were arrested by the police. Police had said that the market value of the ganja was around Rs 50 lakh.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)
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Abhay, who is the Director General of Police (DGP), accompanied by other senior officers of State Police reviewed the LWE scenario, anti-Naxal Operations in the district, anti-Cannabis initiatives of the district police and other issues. He interacted with the senior officers of the district police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and reviewed the security response as well as developmental activities going on in the area.
“About 40,000 kg of ganja were seized by the district police in the last one year while 60 lakh cash were seized from the smugglers. Besides, 83 lakh cash in bank account of the smugglers were frozen,” the DGP said.
“Such massive success was not achieved in Koraput in the last 10 years. I appreciate the SP and his team for massive crackdown on ganja trade. It has weaken the smuggling of narcotics,” Abhay added.
The top cop also interacted with police Corona warriors and field officers and appreciated their good work. He issued appreciation certificates to Corona Warriors who joined duty after recovering from Covid19.
The DGP reviewed the LWE situation in Malkangiri district which remains one of the traditionally strong bastions of the ultras.
Despite progressive improvement in the situation due to proactive security response and developmental interventions, LWE menace remains challenging in parts of the district particularly in Swabhiman Anchal (cut-off area), Tulsi Dongri area and to an extent Kalimela region.
During the period from 2018 onwards, 10 hardcore CPI (Maoist) cadres have been neutralised in the district, 45 arrested and 34 others surrendered. Besides, large quantity of arms and ammunition have been recovered from the hideouts of CPI (Maoist). Recently, arms manufacturing unit of the outfit was busted by the security forces.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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As per reports, the contraband was seized from a police vehicle near Ramapada chhak in Sambalpur by Rengali Police. The vehicle is stated to be belonging to the GRP & its driver Purna Chandra Patra has been arrested.
The driver of the vehicle who hails from Bishipali under Bonai Police limits in Sundergarh district is currently working at Deputy Superintendent Of Railway Police (DSRP) in Jharsuguda.
A probe has been launched after an FIR was registered in Rengali Police Station under NDPS act. Police officials could not be available to comment on the incident.
Only today, an assistant sub-inspector and two home guards were arrested for allegedly releasing a ganja (dry cannabis) laden vehicle after taking bribe from the peddlers in Malkangiri district.
After the matter came to light, Malkangiri SP suspended the concerned sub-inspector while the ASI and two home guards have been arrested after a case was registered in this connection.
Repeated incidents showing complicity of police in the trade of narcotics now seems to have become a major headache for the State police.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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As per reports, the sleuths of the DRI intercepted a vegetable-laden truck near Khandagiri area and seized about 5.5 quintals of ganja.
The contraband was en-route to Bihar in the vehicle. The DRI has kept a close eye on these illegal trade and it will not let such crime flourish here, said an official on condition of anonymity.
It is being alleged that the driver and other occupants attempted to evade a checkpoint but because of the fire, they had to escape leaving behind the vehicle at the spot.
Receiving information, fire services personnel rushed to the site and doused the flames but the vehicle was completely burnt by the time they managed to extinguish the fire.
A huge stash of contraband packed in boxes and buckets was recovered from the car.
Police officials have initiated an investigation and are trying to trace the vehicle owner based on the chassis number. Further probe is on.
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The consignment was being carried in a truck from Odisha to Banda in Uttar Pradesh when it was intercepted by a joint team of STF and local police on Thursday evening, they said.
The arrested were identified as Shamsuddin, Ram Milan, Shiv dutt and Rajesh.
The market value of the seized consignment of ganja (cannabis) was stated to be about Rs 30 lakh, a police officer said.
During interrogation, the four accused named some other people involved in the smuggling and a probe is underway in the matter, the police officer said.
(PTI)
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Sources said the truck was illegally transporting the banned material from Andhra Pradesh to Balasore in Odisha when acting on a tip-off the officials conducted a raid and found ganja stuffed inside the coconut husk-laden vehicle.
The NCB has arrested one person in this connection while the truck was also seized. Further investigation is on.
In another incident, four suspected drug peddlers were arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police for trying to smuggle 200 kg ganja into the state. The consignment was being carried in a truck from Odisha to Banda in Uttar Pradesh when it was intercepted by a joint team of STF and local police on Thursday evening.
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During night patrolling, police intercepted the vehicle near Bhedibeda as the ganja was being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to Jeypore area. However, the driver managed to escape.
According to police sources, over 1,054 quintal of ganja has been seized in Odisha by various State agencies between January 1 and September 30 this year.
The maximum seizure of the contraband was made from Koraput (420 quintal), Malkangiri (240 quintal) and Gajapati (126 quintal).
While an average seizure of 312 quintal was made in the last 10 years, this figure was 414 quintal in the last five years. The cumulative seizure of ganja is nearly 2.5 times more than the average seizure in the last five years, said sources.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
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According to sources, the market value of the seized Ganja is around Rs 1.5 crore.
The Machakunda police seized more than eight quintals of Ganja inside a closed house near Hanumal area along Koraput-Malkangiri border, while five quintal of the contraband was seized from a van from Padua area on Andhra Pradesh border, sources added.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)
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The BSF and t0he police were patrolling at a MVCP (mobile vehicle check post) near Hanumal village today when the officials grew suspicious after they saw the driver of the vehicle trying to hurry his way through the check post.
Later, when they signaled the van to stop, the driver and helper of the vehicle fled the spot leaving the van there, informed Nandpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sanjay Kumar Mahapatra.
The officials subsequently searched the van and recovered 169 packets of ganja weighing more than 800 kg, a country gun and two rounds of bullet. The van was heading towards Chhattisgarh from Malkangiri, added the SDPO.
A manhunt has been launched to nab the two persons (driver and helper of the pickup van) involved in the smuggling. Further investigation in connection with the matter is underway by Machkund Police.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Commissionerate Police seized around 14 kg of ganja worth Rs 1 lakh from two expensive cars and arrested two peddlers in this connection near Bankuala under Saheed Nagar Police limits in Bhubaneswar. Cops also confiscated both the four wheelers used for the peddling.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
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A whopping Rs 4 crore worth ganja have been seized and more than Rs 3 crore worth hemp plant cultivation destroyed in the past just 14 days.
On Saturday, ganja worth around Rs 20 lakh was seized in Chitrakonda while it was being transported to a neighbouring state. The seizure came a day after over 12 quintals of ganja worth over Rs 1.30 crore was seized at two separate places in the Koraput district.
On November 1, a huge consignment of ganja worth over Rs 1.5 crore was seized in Koraput. The Machkund police had seized more than eight quintals of marijuana from a closed house near Hanumal area along Koraput-Malkangiri border, while five quintal of the contraband was seized from a van from Padua area on the Andhra Pradesh border.
The Machkund Police along with a BSF team again intercepted a pick-up van near Hanumal village in the district and seized over 800 kg ganja worth Rs 80 lakh from the vehicle.
A joint team of Baliguda Police and Excise department had destroyed Ganja cultivation worth over Rs 90 lakh by burning the crop, spread across several places in Kandhamal.
Similarly, a joint team of the Kandhamal Police and Excise officials destroyed illegal ganja cultivation on acres of lands worth around Rs 1.55 crore in different forest areas of Dudduki panchayat under Sadar police limits in Kandhamal district.
Though the joint teams of police and Excise department have intensified the crackdown on the production and supply of illegal cannabis, it seems there's a long road ahead to completely wipe out the illegal trade.
According to sources, based on information received regarding smuggling of the contraband from the Andhra borders, Koraput SP directed Nandapur SDPO to immediately look into the matter. As per the directive issued, a joint team of Machkund and Lamtaput Police launched patrolling in Guneipada area and intercepted the ganja-laden truck near Shiva temple late last night.
During the search, Police seized around 321.8 kg ganja stuffed in 16 bags, the value of which is estimated to be around Rs 30 lakh. Two peddlers - Bipin Mishra and Arun Dubey - were arrested on charges of smuggling the contraband.
Initial investigation reports suggest that the consignment was being transported from Enugu area in Andhra Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh via Lamtaput, Jeypore, and Raipur.
In another anti-Narcotics drive launched by Malkangiri district Police, around 621 kg ganja was seized by a team led by Chitrakonda Police Station SI NC Biswal following a raid on Sunday. Two persons were arrested and two mobile phones along with Rs 6100 cash was also seized from their possession, police said.
Prior to that, another team led by SI JPN Hota of Orkel Police Station had seized 89 Kg Ganja being transported on a motorcycle, and arrested two persons.
Lauding the efforts of the police, Odisha DGP Abhay said we are committed to combating drug trafficking in the State.
The contraband was seized from a smuggler’s house following a joint raid conducted by Patapur police and Excise department. All the members of the family are on thr run.
A day earlier, ganja cultivation on around 20 acres of land had been destroyed at T Govindpur area under Taptapani police limits in the district.
Similarly on November 23, a joint team of Mohana Police and Excise department had destroyed Ganja cultivation worth over Rs17.28 crore by setting the hemp plant on fire spread across several places in Gajapati district.
During the raid, ganja cultivation in more than 86 acres of land at Buduni and Kadamuli areas under Baghamari Panchayat had been destroyed. The officials had uprooted the fully grown cannabis plants and set those on fire.
(Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
As per reports, the Excise department officials of Berhampur division reportedly intercepted a coir-laden truck, a car and a pickup van on the National Highway in Berhampur and seized over 11 quintals of ganja from the truck. The market value of the ganja is estimated to be around Rs 55 lakh.
The excise officials have also arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of the contraband items. The ganja was reportedly being transported in the vehicles from Gajapati district to Uttarakhand.
The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch intercepted a12-wheeler truck on State Highway No-5 near Tikarpada Harijan Sahi in Muniguda area of Rayagada district and seized contraband ganja weighing more than two tonnes from the vehicle on Tuesday.
The market value of the narcotics is estimated to be around Rs 1 crore, said reports.
Though the accused managed to escape the spot, the drug peddlers have been identified and will be arrested soon, stated the STF in a press statement released today.
Meanwhile, a case under NDPS Act, 1985 has been registered and investigation in connection with the seizure of the huge quantity of ganja is underway.
"This is the biggest seizure ever of ganja for STF and one of the biggest seizure of the state in recent time," claimed the STF.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
https://youtu.be/ziENnKqmUKk
A team of the ATS led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Thakur with assistance from local Sadar Police conducted a raid at Kalaguda village on Saturday night.
During the raid, the team arrested one Khagapati Pangi (45) for his alleged complicity in a narcotics case.
As per sources, Pangi was arrested under section 20/22 NDPS Act. It is alleged that Pangi used to supply Ganja (Dry Cannabis) to Nagpur in huge quantities.
The accused has been taken to Nagpur for further investigation in the case.
(This is a developing story)
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
Police have also arrested two persons identified Chaturam of Bihar and Rajiya Paswan of Delhi in connection with the illegal trade. The market value of the contraband is estimated to be around Rs 4 lakh, said police sources.
The contraband was being transported from Andhra Pradesh via Machkund, Lamtaput and Jeypore to Bihar in a Bolero, said reports.
A joint team of Machkund and Lamtaput police were conducting patrolling in Machkund area when they tried to intercept a four-wheeler. However, Chaturam, who was at the wheel did not stop the vehicle and sped away forcing the police officials to give it a chase.
The police team overtook the vehicle near Kanagaon Chhak. Following searches, police recovered the ganja concealed inside the seat of the vehicle and arrested the two peddlers.
Meanwhile, Chaturam and Rajiya have been taken to the Lamtaput Police Station for interrogation in connection with the incident, added reports. Further investigation into the case is underway.
(Edited By Ramakant Biswas)
Semiliguda Police on Sunday seized around 15.77 quintal of Ganja near Daliamba chhak while it was being illegally transported in a tanker trunk. The market value of the seized contraband is estimated to be more than Rs 75 Lakh, said police sources.
The Semiliguda Police were reportedly patrolling at the Daliamba chhak area when they intercepted the tanker. The three peddlers, who were inside the vehicle, fled the spot leaving the vehicle behind.
Meanwhile, police have seized the contraband and launched a manhunt to nab the miscreants.
Similarly, the Excise department officials on Saturday seized around 20 quintals of Ganja from a poultry feed-laden truck near Kanisi area on NH-16 in Berhampur in Ganjam district.
Reportedly, one drug peddler was detained in connection with the illegal trade. The seized Ganja may worth more than Rs 1 crore, said sources.
Miscreants are reportedly using different techniques to smuggle narcotic substances like Ganja (dry cannabis) in the State. However, they have been futile in their plan as Odisha police has been regularly conducting patrolling and have seized the narcotic substances across the State in the past few months.
Besides, police have also successfully nabbed several drug peddlers who were involved in drug peddling.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)