JEYPORE: In a bid to curb ganja cultivation and trafficking in the tribal-dominated Koraput, the district administration has launched operation ‘green clean’ and formed a special task force. So far, 24 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been registered at different police stations in the district.
Sources said while Maoist-dominated areas in Malkangiri remain the epicentre of cannabis cultivation, villages in Koraput have emerged as popular trading hubs. Ganja cultivation in several hilly areas of the two districts is increasing year by year. Due to easy money, selling and purchasing of the weed is getting popular among the inter-state drug traffickers.
As per data of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), cannabis cultivated on 4,407.73 acres in eight districts of Odisha has been destroyed in 2017-18, against a target of 3,050 acres. Similarly, more than 2,000 hectares (ha) of land have been covered in ganja cultivation in Koraput and Malkangiri districts.
A major share of ganja income allegedly goes to Maoists operating in these areas, which remains a major cause of concern for the security agencies to curb the trafficking. While the banned drug is available at `500 per kg in the tribal areas, it fetches up to `7,000 per kg in open market. International traders are eyeing the ganja being produced in tribal areas for its unique aroma and intoxication, sources said.
Taking into consideration the gravity of the situation, the district police administration has launched the drive and formed several task forces at Nanapur, Pottangi, Semilliguda, Jeypore, Laxmipur, Boiparriguda, Machhkund, Kotpad and Borrigumma police stations to crackdown on illegal cultivation and traffickers.
During the last six months, task force officials have raided major ganja trafficking routes like Chitrakonda-Khairaput-Lamtaput, Kalimela-Boiparriguda-Jeypore and Nandapur-Pottangi- Laxmipur in Koraput and seized 5,472 kg hemp.
Similarly, 47 smugglers have been nabbed and 20 vehicles seized, while two constables were arrested and one IIC was suspended for their alleged link with the ganja mafia. A special team, led by Koraput SP KV Singh, is monitoring the drive on daily basis. Police administration has zero tolerance towards ganja cultivation and trafficking and more crackdowns on mafia will continue, the SP said.