Bhubaneswar, July 1: In a major breakthrough aligned with the ‘Nishamukta Odisha’ (Drug-Free Odisha) campaign, the state police have struck a massive blow against the illegal drug trade, registering historic seizures and enforcement actions. Operating under a strict ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy against illicit drug trafficking, illegal cannabis cultivation and interstate drug networks, the Odisha Police has positioned the state as a benchmark at the national level.
The developments were highlighted during a special event at the Police Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, organized as part of the National Level Pre-Trial Drug Destruction Special Drive. Conducted under the directives of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Government of India, this nationwide drive spans from June 26 to July 10, 2026. Speaking as the chief guest, Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania emphasized that building a drug-free, safe and empowered Odisha remains the highest priority for the force, promising even more aggressive campaigns in the coming days.
To ensure swift legal proceedings and fast-track trials in narcotics cases, the state government has approved the setting up of four special NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) courts in Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Angul and Sambalpur. Furthermore, a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) is being established under the leadership of a senior officer of Additional DGP rank. This task force will operate with 10 regional units and 19 specialized intelligence units across the state. The DGP revealed a target to penalize at least 100 prominent drug kingpins annually under strict NDPS laws, alongside completely neutralizing identified drug hotspots. A strong emphasis is also being placed on financial investigations targeting the masterminds and financiers of illegal cultivation to permanently dismantle their economic backbones.
Statistically, the enforcement drive has yielded unprecedented results. Between July 2024 and March 2026, the state police destroyed over 63,720 acres of illegal cannabis cultivation, valued at an estimated 1,911 crore INR. During the same period, 2,445 NDPS cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 3,502 accused individuals and the seizure of 421 tonnes of cannabis worth approximately 2,106 crore INR.
A notable operational success was achieved by the Koraput District Police, which busted an illegal cannabis oil manufacturing facility. The raid resulted in the recovery of nearly 1,800 liters of cannabis oil valued at 225 crore INR, along with cannabis worth 5 crore INR. Four primary operatives of this racket were tracked down and arrested from Kerala. Additionally, the Special Task Force (STF) apprehended two active members of an interstate drug trafficking syndicate operating across Kandhamal, Boudh, Sonepur and neighboring states.
Alongside hard enforcement, community awareness has been pushed to the forefront. Anti-drug pledge ceremonies were conducted across more than 550 police stations spanning all 35 police districts in the state. The outreach successfully engaged over 25,000 citizens, 4,882 students and 337 teachers in a collective oath to build a drug-free society.
As part of the ongoing disposal drive, the police have targeted the destruction of nearly 80 tonnes of cannabis, 11.4 kilograms of brown sugar and 3,638 bottles of banned cough syrup collectively worth 410 crore INR across seven authorized incineration centers in Khordha, Angul, Balasore, Ganjam, Balangir, Koraput and Sundargarh. While 36 tonnes of cannabis have already been successfully disposed of since the start of the drive, the remaining seized contraband will be destroyed in phases following standard legal protocols.
DGP Khurania reiterated that the battle against drug mafias and traffickers will intensify, warning that no leniency will be shown to lawbreakers. The event was attended by Director General of Police (Crime Branch) Vinay Tosh Mishra, IGP (Crime Branch) Dr. Sarthak Sarangi, DIGP (STF) Dr. Kanwar Vishal Singh and other senior police officials.
