Bhubaneswar: In recent years during the massive campaign against narcotics especially Ganja (also known as Cannabis/ Marijuana/ weeds) and Brown sugar (also known as Heroin/ smack) by Odisha police, there has been huge piling up of seized narcotic drugs. As the trial of narcotics cases takes time, these seized drugs remain stocked at police stations/ court Malkhanas exposed to all kind of vulnerabilities.
The piling up of seized drugs has been a cause of concern and Supreme Court in the case of Union of India Vs Mohanlal & others passed a detailed order on disposal/ destruction of seized drugs especially emphasizing on pre-trial disposal of seized drugs.
However, because of some procedural and technical ambiguity/ issues, seized drugs could not be disposed of. In this backdrop, STF approached the Orissa High Court with a prayer for certain direction/order to resolve the issues/ hindrances involved in disposing of the seized drugs.
Finally, on January 31, 2022, the High Court passed a landmark judgment directing the Sub-ordinate courts to dispose the applications filed U/s. Sec.52A of NDPS Act, 1985 issuing a detailed SOP in this regard.
Accordingly, on Monday, on the decision of High-Level Drug Disposal Committee comprising DIG, STF, JN Pankaj, SP, STF, BBSR, SP, CID,CB, Cuttack, Deputy Collector, Khordha, Superintendent of Excise, Khordha, DSP, STF in presence of Scientific Officers of State Forensic Science laboratory and Member of State Pollution Board disposed/destructed more than 2 kg Brown Sugar.
The activity was carried out in a designated incinerator at Tangiapada, Khordha following all due procedures, the STF stated.
The seized drugs/Ganja was first authenticated/ certificated by court and handed over to Drug disposal committee for disposal/ destruction. Till date STF has destructed/disposed of 22 kg 569 gm brown sugar in 17 cases and 38 Qtls 09 kg Ganja in 06 cases including today’s destruction.
Similarly, Odisha Police has disposed/ destructed more than 535 Qtl. Ganja in 227 Cases and more than 27 kg Brown Sugar in 35 Cases.
