The Bastar Police has once again reiterated its campaign against drugs and drugs peddlers and has allegedly eliminated nearly 27,000 kilograms of cannabis plant seized from the area and sent a clear message to the drugs smugglers. The crackdown is part of the efforts to break anti-national activities by authorities, who said they are trying to destroy smuggling lines that funnel drugs from neighbouring Odisha through Bastar.
The lead area has long been recognized as one of the major Indian producers of marijuana; consignment of marijuana is usually channeled through Bastar before being sent to other states of the country. Bastar has been under the radar owing to its strategic location and has been witness to frequent checkpoints, intelligence-based activities and anti-smuggling raid by police.
Data shared by officials said that around 27000 Kilograms of Cannabis seized in 490 cases got destroyed after completion of legal cases in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The narcotics were destroyed using proper scientific techniques so they are not reintroduced into the drug trade, authorities said.
Other contrabands have been the subject of the campaign as well. Some 230 grams of opium, nearly 13,000 narcotic tablets, some 13,000 capsules and over 27,000 bottles of intoxicating syrup have been destroyed by police. The deplroy is part of a general approach to combat all levels of drug trafficking in the area, officials said.
Seized drugs go in to a centralized police file, where they are being continually monitored by CCTV cameras and kept there till disposal is approved by courts and authorized committees, Additional Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Nag said. It is done in accordance with strict regulations to ensure transparency and security.
Police also revealed the bulk of an additional 61 NDPS cases resulted in the seizure of another 2,234kg of cannabis, which is also being destroyed. The stock will be cremated in a privately owned and built crematorium in NMDC Steel Plant at Nagarnar.
Authorities suspect the ongoing crackdown has a crippling impact on drug trafficking from Odisha to CHT.