In a big action against illegal drug farming, officials in Maharashtra destroyed 96,049 cannabis plants over 9.49 acres in seven places in Dhule district. They also found 420.39 kg of processed ganja worth ₹20 crore. This operation focused on illegal cannabis farming near the border with Madhya Pradesh. Teams from Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur worked together to tackle this problem. The villages of Khamkheda Ambe and Rohini were found to be important spots for this illegal drug trade.
The places where the plants were grown showed that the farmers were using special drip irrigation systems. This means they’d invested a lot of money and planned carefully to grow more crops. Authorities discovered processed ganja stored in bags all over the fields, which showed that there was an active network to sell these drugs. The way this operation was set up shows that illegal cannabis farming is becoming more complex in the area.
The destruction of the cannabis plants was done following the law called the NDPS Act, 1985, which has strict rules about drugs. There was a judge watching over the operation to make sure everything was done legally. Officials took many photos and measurements to keep a record of what happened. The NDPS Act can punish people with heavy fines and long prison sentences.
Before the operation, there was a lot of intelligence gathering and careful watching. This shows how important it’s to plan well for successful drug enforcement. The DRI worked with local officials and judges to coordinate their efforts against illegal farming.
This operation was a big hit against drug trafficking networks in the area. The value of the cannabis that was seized and destroyed is estimated to be ₹20 crore. Finding bags ready for distribution indicates that these drugs were meant for illegal sales. This action shows that the authorities are serious about stopping drug trafficking but also highlights the ongoing difficulties of controlling illegal farming near state borders.
The careful documentation and legal steps taken during this operation will help stop future illegal farming in the region. It’s a step toward making the community safer and reducing the problem of drugs in the area.
