Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand major cultivators of ganja: DGP

Amaravati: Director General of Police Damodar Gautam Sawang inaugurating a one-day workshop on 'Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances' at the Police Headquarters' here on Friday said that ganja is cultivated more in the neighboring States Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and it is illegally being transported from Malkanagiri to Andhra Pradesh and from here to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States in various modes of transport.

Tonnes of ganja was seized in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Nellore and Tirupati, he said. The government issued orders to take severe action against smugglers of ganja and other narcotic drugs which impact health and spoil the bright future of students of colleges and schools, he added.

The DGP said severe action will be taken against smugglers and peddlers and Preventive Detention Act will be used against them for illegal transportation and supply of Ganja and narcotic drugs to students of colleges and schools.

He requested students not to spoil their bright future by getting addicted to ganja and drugs. With the collaborative work of police of all Southern States, the illegal transportation of ganja and other narcotic drugs can be eradicated if different departments maintained database of smugglers, he said.

Addl DG of the CID Sunil Kumar said that complete cooperation will be provided to the neighbouring States and efforts would be made to prevent smuggling of ganja and other narcotic drugs.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Anand Kumar Jha said that by drones and remote sensing data, ganja crops were identified and destructed. IG of IB Chandra Sekhar said that working with the coordination of neighbouring States, the smuggling of narcotic drugs can be eradicated.

SPs of Vishakapatnam rural, East Godavari and Rajahmundry said that moderate climate and abundant water are favourable for cultivation of ganja and the investment per acre is Rs one lakh while the profit is Rs 2 lakh per acre.

They said that ganja is transported through concealed containers, bus, train, lorry, trucks and bikes. Senior South Zone officials of various departments like the Police, the Excise, the Forest, the Directorate of Revenue, Intelligence, Customs, Narcotic Control Bureau, Medical, and Health, Forensic Science Laboratory, and Additional DG of Law & Order Ravi Shankar Ayyanar, Addl. DG, CID Sunil Kumar, IG, IB Chandra Sekhar and district SPs and Addl SPs attended the event.