Andhra Pradesh: 100-Day Drive Against Cannabis in ASR District Yielding Results

 Visakhapatnam: The 100-day comprehensive crackdown on widespread cultivation and smuggling of cannabis (ganja) in tribal regions of the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district has yielded significant results.

ASR district collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar and SP Amit Bardar had launched the anti-ganja campaign on June 12, 2024 with the goal of eradicating cannabis from the tribal areas.

From June 12 to August 22, authorities have seized 4,386.85 kg of ganja, registered 62 cases and taken legal action against 234 individuals across several mandals of the district, including Paderu and Hukumpet.

In addition, officials of various departments are collaborating in educating tribal communities against cultivating ganja or consuming it.

Farmers who have stopped cultivating cannabis are being encouraged to pursue horticulture. Authorities are distributing various plants, including silver oak, custard apple, and mango, to these farmers. Last year, 3,86,772 saplings had been given to tribal farmers, who planted them across 4,198 acres.

Since 2019, police have registered total 1,230 cases and confiscated 1,94,806 kg of ganja. In 2019, 119 cases had been registered, 19,294 kg of the narcotic seized and 406 smugglers arrested. In 2020, the cases registered increased to 174 cases, resulting in seizure of 30,101 kg of ganja and 491 arrests.

The trend continued in 2021 with 238 cases, leading to the confiscation of 65,636 kg and 790 arrests. In 2022, authorities booked 244 cases, seized 39,784 kg of cannabis, apart from 3.35 kg of liquid marijuana, and took action against 1,001 individuals. In 2023, authorities registered 263 cases, seizing 20,899 kg of ganja and 16.73 kg of liquid ganja, arresting 1,116 persons.

This year, as of August 21, 2024, 192 cases have been registered, leading to the seizure of 11,090 kg of ganja and 88.15 kg of liquid ganja, along with arrest of 748 smugglers.