Even though organised crimes are a global threat, its effects are felt locally. When an organised crime takes root, it can undermine development and governance and violate human rights.
Organised crime syndicates, whose operations transcend borders of multiple States, also work with local criminals, leading to an increase in drug trafficking, illegal firearm trading, wildlife smuggling, extortion, racketeering and violence, as well as a range of other more sophisticated crimes at the local level.
Violent gangs also turn city neighbourhoods into dangerous areas and put citizens' lives at risk.
In this scenario, for the safety and health of the citizens the Odisha Government had formed a small specialised agency, the Special Task Force (STF) in 2012 under the aegis of the Crime Branch in 2012 to combat organised crime effectively in the State.
Thankfully, the STF has been successful in putting many organised criminals out of business.
In 2022 only, the STF, led by IGP Jay Naryan Pankaj, has detected 75 cases and arrested 133 accused.
Out of the detected cases, 27 are Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases, 31 are wildlife cases, three are arms and ammunitions cases, four are fake currency cases, five are cases related to Australian coke, hard coke, chromites, coal, two are cases related to Codeine based cough syrup and two are cruelty to animal cases.
In the 27 NDPS cases, the STF has seized approximately 22 kilogram of brown sugar, over 2,524 kilogram of ganja, 202 grams of cocaine, 517 gram of opium and cash amounting to over Rs 65 lakh.
Movable and immovable properties worth more than Rs 12.85 crore of drug traffickers have been seized and forfeited in NDPS cases which have been approved by competent authority, Kolkata.
Around 22 kilograms of brown sugar and 38 quintals of ganja have been destroyed in the designated incinerator after being certified by courts and following all due procedures and pollution guidelines.
The achievement of destruction and disposal of a whopping 658 quintals of seized ganja and 27 kilograms of brown sugar has been appreciated by the Orissa High Court.
In the wildlife cases, the STF has seized 14 leopard skins, one Royal Bengal Tiger skin, one leopard skin, nine live pangolins, 22 kilograms of pangolin scale, 14 elephant tusks, two leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws and 46 live wild parrots.
In the arms and ammunition cases, the STF has seized 14 firearms, 60 bullets and eight magazines.
In fake currency cases, the STF has seized counterfeit notes worth Rs 47, 43,100.
In cases related to Australian coke,hard coke, chromites, coal, the STF has seized 338 tonnes of hard coke, 72 tonnes of coal, 730 tonnes of chromite, and 31 tons of Australian Coke.
In cases related to Codeine based cough syrup, 1,920 bottles have been seized by the STF.
The intelligentsia opined that the agency’s effective handling of mafia gangs has reduced the pressure on the Commissionerate and district police.