VISAKHAPATNAM, 27 June 2025: In a landmark shift ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, authorities in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district have reported a sharp decline in cannabis (ganja) cultivation, thanks to successful intervention and transition to sustainable farming practices.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Visakha Range DIG Gopinath Jatti announced that recent aerial surveys across 14,870 acres in 327 villages revealed ganja being cultivated on just 93 acres across 38 villages — a dramatic reduction from previous years. “Even these scattered patches have been destroyed, and those responsible have been booked under the NDPS Act,” he said.
Once a hotspot for cannabis cultivation across thousands of acres in tribal zones, the ASR district is now turning green for the right reasons. Over 10,256 farmers from 20 mandals have shifted to sustainable crops. The administration supported this shift by distributing 4.68 million saplings of 22 crop species across more than 10,800 acres during the rabi season.
Further encouraging the transition, authorities distributed 4,496 quintals of rajma seeds to 35,618 farmers in areas previously notorious for ganja farming.
The police are targeting cannabis issues on three fronts — cultivation, consumption, and transportation. “We are also coordinating with Odisha, especially Malkangiri district, to curb cross-border drug cultivation,” added DIG Jatti.
On the consumption front, over 10,654 awareness campaigns have been conducted in 3,039 educational institutions. Community-led initiatives such as village-level committees, anonymous drop boxes, and inter-departmental meetings are part of a comprehensive strategy to combat local drug use.
To boost surveillance, 19 drones and NDPS patrol teams now monitor hotspots, while 26 CCTV-equipped checkposts and 289 dynamic checkpoints help curb smuggling operations. Nine trained sniffer dogs are deployed across key transit points.
The crackdown has also extended to the financial front. Properties worth INR 9.76 crore, linked to eight key accused, have been attached under the NDPS Act, reinforcing the message that ill-gotten gains will be seized. In the past year, the police have arrested 25 inter-state and 44 inter-district drug smuggling gangs.
As Andhra Pradesh takes firm steps towards a drug-free and sustainable future, the ASR model stands out as a blueprint for integrating law enforcement, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihood development.
Image credit: hempworks.in
