Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has destroyed a record 220 tons (2, 20,000 Kg) of seized Ganja (marijuana/cannabis) in 1434 cases and more than 78 kg of brown sugar/heroin in 129 cases during the last one year.
The narcotic items were destroyed following strict rules and regulations. The STF of Odisha Police on Friday described the year as one of the successful years of the destruction drive of pre-trial seized narcotics drugs.
The drive was started last year after a landmark judgement of the Orissa High Court on a petition filed by STF Odisha for directing the Subordinate courts and issuing an SOP for early certification/ authentication of seized narcotics drugs. The judgement was passed on 31.01.2022.
The first such drug disposal/ destruction took place on June 10, 2022, and within one year Odisha Police destroyed a record 220 Tons of seized Ganja (marijuana/cannabis) in 1434 cases and more than 78 Kg of brown sugar/ Heroin in 129 cases.
The STF officials said the disposal/destruction of seized drugs is a complex legal and administrative process involving the judiciary, Police, Forensic Science Laboratory, Pollution Board, Excise, Revenue and Central Government’s Chief Controllers.
The seized contrabands are being disposed of as per sub-section (3) of section 52A of the NDPS Act 1985.
Committees have been formed in each district/establishment under the chairmanship of Superintendent of Police (SP) for the destruction of drugs in which the Excise Superintendent, one Deputy Collector and one Deputy Superintendent of Police are members of the Drug Disposal Committee.
On receipt of the chemical examination report from the SFSL/RFSL, the IO moves to the concerned court for certification of the correctness of the inventory of seized contrabands and the seized drugs were destroyed following all prescribed guidelines.