Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has intensified its sustained and aggressive campaign against illegal ganja cultivation, leveraging advanced surveillance tools and coordinated field operations to dismantle narcotic networks operating in remote regions of the state.
Using drone technology and satellite imagery, the police have been able to pinpoint hidden plantations even in difficult terrain, enabling teams to swiftly locate and destroy vast stretches of illicit crops.
Special anti-narcotics squads have been deployed across all affected districts, working round the clock to eliminate illegal cultivation and safeguard the future of young people vulnerable to drug abuse. So far this year, the police have eradicated more than 18,111 acres of ganja fields, and the crackdown will continue uninterrupted until March 2026.
By the end of November, a total of 473 cases had been registered across the state in connection with ganja smuggling and cultivation. Boudh district reported the highest number of cases, with 181 and over 7,757 acres of illegal crops destroyed. Kandhamal followed with 132 cases and more than 9,313 acres cleared. Other major districts contributing to the crackdown include Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, Ganjam, Keonjhar and Nabarangpur, all identified as key hotspots for cultivation. Large areas in these districts have already been uprooted through rapid intervention by special police teams.
Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania hailed the destruction of thousands of acres in such a short period as a significant achievement. He reiterated that the campaign would continue with the same intensity in the months ahead. For perspective, in the entire year 2024, Odisha Police had registered 594 cases and destroyed over 20,803 acres of illegal ganja plantations.
The DGP added that, along with enforcement, the police are counselling individuals involved in cultivation and issuing stern warnings that anyone found engaged in growing ganja will face strict legal consequences. With drone and satellite surveillance now mapping even the most inaccessible areas, the police are confident of identifying and razing every remaining patch of illegal plantation.
