Visakhapatnam: The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have intensified their crackdown on the ganja trade, with a staggering 134 cases registered from January this year to till date. The authorities have apprehended 175 individuals, including 11 children and several women, involved in the illicit business.
Giving details to the media at a press conference here on Wednesday, Government Railway Police DSP Mohan Babu has highlighting the arrest of 175 individuals, including minors and women, in connection with these cases. The seized ganja, valued at approximately ₹1.25 crore, was primarily sourced from Odisha.
He further said that the NDA government has devised a 100-day action plan and are establishing an anti-narcotics task force. He also emphasised the government’s commitment to dismantle the drug syndicates operating in the area.
The investigations revealed that a rare and high-value ganja variety, known as Sheelavati, was being smuggled to north India and Kerala. The substantial profit margins with the drug purchased locally for ₹2,000 per kilogram and sold for ₹20,000 in other states have fuelled the illicit trade.
Mohan Babu cautioned that addiction is a serious concern and warned of stringent penalties for those involved in the ganja trade. He said possession of less than 20 kg of ganja is considered a non-commercial quantity while anything above 30 kg is classified as commercial. The convicted offenders will face a jail term of up to 15 years.
