A total number of 1,745 cases were detected in the State and 724 persons were arrested in connection with illegal cannabis cultivation and possession of incriminating materials like hemp plants, ID liquor worth `467.53 crore was seized and destroyed in the 2015-16 financial year. This was revealed at a coordination review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary AP Padhi on Tuesday.
It was also revealed that the illegal cannabis cultivation has declined in the State during the current crop year particularly in the districts like Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur where these plants were traditionally being grown.
The Chief Secretary directed the Police, Forests, Excise and Revenue Departments to intensify the multi-squad enforcement activities to wipe out the cannabis cultivation in the State. Padhi instructed the officials to prepare the seizer papers, case records appropriately for high rate of conviction and directed that the District level Enforcement Committees to meet regularly. The Excise Department was advised to engage special counsels if needed in selected cases.
Special DG (Crime) BK Sharma, present in the meeting appraised that the inter-State traders from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Kerala were arrested and convicted for instigating this illegal activity while destruction activities of hemp plants have also been intensified in the districts like Kandhamal, Boudh and Gajapati.
Padhi stressed on registration of cases subsequent to destruction and said arrests would be made mandatory as per the rules while financial investigation would be carried out for asset attachment and confiscation.
It was also decided that provisions of the PITNDPS Act would be used for preventive detention of the habitual offenders and traffickers.
Home Secretary Asit Tripathy, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, DGP Kunwar Brajesh Singh, Excise Principal Secretary SP Thakur, among many others attended the meeting.