Bhubaneswar: Odisha DGP YB Khurania on Monday said that police have registered 54 cases related to cannabis trafficking and cultivation in the state.
Under its ‘Green Clean Mission’, police have seized over 3,500 kilograms of cannabis and arrested 80 individuals. In addition, cash to the tune of Rs 15 lakh and 20 vehicles used in the illegal cannabis trade have been confiscated, the DGP said today.
According to Kurania, police are vigilant with constant monitoring of cannabis-prone areas and, all necessary steps will be taken to ensure the mission’s success.
It is worth mentioning here that the Odisha government initiated the ‘Green Clean Mission’ with a view to curb drug peddling and improve the quality of life. As a part of the mission, police are destroying cannabis (ganja) cultivation in the state.
Enforcement teams have so far destroyed ganja cultivation on more than 10 acres in the Digapahandi area of Ganjam district. In addition, 62 acres of forest land in Subarnapur district have been cleared of cannabis cultivation.
The joint task force comprising personnel from the Odisha police, Excise, Revenue, and Forest departments have been constituted to make ‘Green Clean Mission’ a success, DGP Khurania informed. The drive is a part of the state government’s initiative to completely eliminate cannabis cultivation by 2026.
