Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has directed stringent action against illegal drug trafficking and substance abuse, stressing a zero-tolerance policy particularly around educational institutions.
Reviewing the state’s situation at a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday, Ahuja instructed officials to intensify raids, strengthen border surveillance, and launch extensive awareness campaigns to protect youth from the growing menace.
The Chief Secretary said that schools and colleges must be turned into drug-free campuses through joint efforts by the police, excise authorities, teachers, parents, and academic administrators. He called for special task forces comprising multiple departments, including Excise, Police, Higher Education, School and Mass Education, and Health, to work in close coordination. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programs will be scaled up to raise awareness among students and communities.
Highlighting Odisha’s vulnerabilities due to its long coastline and interstate borders, Ahuja noted that the state has become a target for traffickers. Recent seizures at Bhubaneswar International Airport, including high-value marijuana and hydroponic marijuana, have underlined the growing challenge. Smuggling of marijuana from Odisha to Andhra Pradesh and other states was also identified as a serious concern.
According to Excise Department data, by July 2025 authorities seized 1,608 quintals of marijuana, registered 385 cases, and arrested 1,162 persons. Additionally, 9.8 kg of brown sugar was confiscated, leading to 142 cases and 292 arrests. Nearly 27,722 acres of illegal marijuana cultivation were destroyed, alongside 632 cases. In Similipal Tiger Reserve, 27 acres of illegal opium cultivation were cleared. During 2024–25, over 9,418 acres of marijuana plantations across 12 districts, comprising more than 12.7 crore plants, were eradicated. Authorities also seized thousands of bottles of cough syrup used for substance abuse.
The Chief Secretary emphasized exemplary punishment for offenders and robust disruption of illegal supply chains. He called for greater coordination between state agencies and central bodies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau. He also instructed intensified vigilance in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and coastal areas like Puri, Konark, and Chilika, where chemical-based drug production has been reported.
“The undue attraction towards drugs is causing severe harm to our youth and creating serious challenges for law enforcement, social stability, and the economy,” Ahuja said, adding that the government, under the Chief Minister’s directive, would act firmly against the menace.
