Kandhamal: Cannabis crops worth nearly Rs 40 lakh were destroyed in the Phiringia area of Odisha’s Kandhamal district in a major crackdown on illegal narcotics cultivation. The raids were carried out under Operation Green Mission, a special drive aimed at curbing large scale cannabis cultivation in forest and interior regions.
A joint team comprising officials from the police, excise, and revenue departments conducted a coordinated raid in the forest areas near Kalibira, Dami and Ratang villages under Ratang panchayat.
During the operation, officials detected cannabis plants grown illegally over around 42 acres of land. The entire crop was subsequently cut down and destroyed by burning on the spot.
Authorities revealed that the cannabis plantation was spread across difficult and densely forested terrain, pointing to organised cultivation by drug networks. The operation dealt a significant blow to illegal narcotics syndicate active in the region, disrupting their supply chain at its roots.
Police officials stated that such anti-cannabis drives will be intensified in the coming days.
Continuous monitoring and coordinated action are planned to prevent the resurgence of illegal cultivation. They also warned that strict legal measures would be taken against those involved in the cultivation, supply, and trafficking of narcotic substances.
