Agartala, Jan 8 (NationPress) In a significant crackdown, security forces have recently eliminated an additional six lakh ganja plants, bringing the total to around 30 lakh marijuana plants destroyed, valued at Rs 145 crore, within just 10 days in the Sepahijala district of Tripura, officials reported on Thursday.

A police spokesperson indicated that joint operations by central and state security forces culminated in the destruction of approximately six lakh young ganja plants across 65 plots of land, encompassing about 200 acres until late Wednesday evening.

The estimated market value of these destroyed marijuana plants is around Rs 36 crore.

The operation saw participation from Tripura police, Tripura State Rifles, Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force (BSF), along with forest and district administration officials, targeting ganja plants in villages such as Dhanpur, Induria, Kacchakhala, and Dhanmura, which fall under the jurisdiction of three police stations—Sonamura, Melagarh, and Kalamchoura—located in Sepahijala district, bordering Bangladesh.

This operation underscores the ongoing vigilance and collaborative efforts of the Assam Rifles alongside allied agencies to combat illegal activities and uphold security in the region, according to a statement issued by the Assam Rifles.

Additionally, in separate operations on December 30 and January 3, security forces had already destroyed over 23 lakh marijuana plants across 414 acres of mountainous terrain, with an estimated value of around Rs 108 crore within the same district.

During this timeframe, several lakh illicit ganja plants were also eradicated in other districts, including Unakoti, South Tripura, and Khowai.

These anti-narcotics efforts were spearheaded by the District Superintendent of Police or the Additional District Superintendent of Police, resulting in the arrest of several individuals involved in illegal cultivation under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Officials noted that the dry ganja harvested in Tripura is not consumed locally but is instead trafficked to various states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it commands a higher price.

During transit, consignments of dry ganja are frequently intercepted from trucks, smaller vehicles, and even passenger trains. Local residents, including women, have claimed that they cultivate ganja in remote and challenging terrains as a means of livelihood.

It has been discovered that many instances involve the encroachment of forest land and other government properties for illicit cannabis farming.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, renders it illegal for any individual to cultivate, possess, sell, buy, or consume narcotic and psychotropic substances, with violations potentially leading to severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment for up to 20 years, as per the official.

In a late-night drug operation on Wednesday, police, acting on specific intelligence, confiscated 12,600 bottles of Eskuf cough syrup, Rs 16,000 in cash, and two mobile phones from a truck with a West Bengal registration number.

This operation was led by Superintendent of Police for North Tripura district, Avinash Rai, in collaboration with personnel from the Enforcement Wing and the Churaibari Sales Tax department.

Two suspects were apprehended in connection with this seizure, and a case has been filed at the Churaibari police station, which shares a border with southern Assam.