Vizag police seize 27,000 Kg of ganja, arrest 1,505 in 2024

Update: 2024-11-23 11:53 GMT
The Visakhapatnam Range Police have filed 538 cases and apprehended 1,505 individuals in 2024, seizing over 27,000 kilograms of Ganja and 95 liters of hashish oil.

The Visakhapatnam Range Police have filed 538 cases and apprehended 1,505 individuals in 2024, seizing over 27,000 kilograms of Ganja and 95 liters of hashish oil. Among those arrested, nearly 640 were interstate offenders, while 560 suspects remain at large.


In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Visakhapatnam Range DIG Gopinath Jatti discussed the extensive strategy used to combat illegal drug trafficking. "We have set up 39 interstate checkpoints and mobilized 32 special teams to apprehend absconding offenders," he said. The police have also integrated technological measures, including CCTV surveillance at checkpoints, which are directly linked to district SP offices, and deployed 11 specialized canine units to detect contraband.
The DIG noted positive judicial outcomes, with 35 individuals convicted in 18 cases, 18 of whom received sentences of over 10 years. Additionally, 52 proposals under the PD Act have been initiated against notorious offenders, and 529 suspect sheets have been opened to monitor key figures in the drug trade.
Since June 2024, a comprehensive operation has targeted illegal cultivation in 173 villages covering 6,000 acres. "Drone surveillance has proven effective, with 204 flight hours completed, surveying 3,924 acres across 115 remote villages. This has resulted in the discovery and destruction of 32.65 acres of Ganja plantations," said DIG Jatti.
He emphasized the importance of rehabilitation efforts, noting that over 10,300 farmers across 10,837 acres have benefitted from alternative cultivation programs in collaboration with agricultural authorities. The initiative has introduced 18 different crops, including silver oak, coffee, and saffron, and distributed 4,496 quintals of rajma seeds to 35,618 farmers.
In addition, the police have conducted 2,590 awareness campaigns and established de-addiction centers in Paderu, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam, currently treating 15 individuals with substance abuse issues.


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