Over 27 quintals of cannabis plants seized in MP's Barwani under Operation Green Strike
Synopsis
More than 400 police personnel from three Madhya Pradesh districts, guided by drone surveillance, uprooted over 26,000 cannabis plants worth ₹1.15 crore from five remote forest fields in Barwani — one of the largest coordinated anti-narcotics operations in the region's recent history.
Key Takeaways
More than 26,000 cannabis plants weighing over 27 quintals and valued at ₹1.15 crore were seized in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh on 14 September 2026 .
The operation, named 'Operation Green Strike' , deployed over 400 police personnel from Barwani , Khargone , and Khandwa districts.
Teams conducted simultaneous searches across 19 villages under Varla police station limits.
Drone surveillance was used to locate suspected cannabis plantations in remote hilly and forest terrain.
All five fields were found on forest land ; police have approached the Forest Department to identify leaseholders and occupants.
Investigation is ongoing to identify cultivators and establish their links to the land parcels.
More than 26,000 cannabis plants weighing over 27 quintals and valued at approximately ₹1.15 crore have been seized from five fields in remote forest and hilly areas of Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, police confirmed on Monday, 14 September 2026. The large-scale crackdown was carried out under 'Operation Green Strike', one of the state's most coordinated anti-narcotics drives in recent memory.
How the Operation Was Conducted
The operation deployed 12 teams comprising more than 400 police personnel drawn from Barwani, Khargone, and Khandwa districts. The teams conducted simultaneous searches across 19 villages under the limits of Varla police station. Given the challenging terrain, authorities deployed drones to identify suspected cannabis plantations in forested and hilly areas before sending in ground teams on foot to reach the precise locations.
Where the Plants Were Found
The five fields were discovered in the remote villages of Dokaliyapani, Dhawaliyagir, Bagdari, Takiyapani, and Adnadi. All fields were found on forest land, prompting police to seek details from the Forest Department regarding the leaseholders and occupants of the parcels in question.
What the Police Said
Barwani Superintendent of Police Padmavilochan Shukla said the operation was specifically planned to uncover illegal cannabis cultivation in areas that are difficult to access by conventional means. 'Drone surveillance helped us identify suspected cultivation sites in the remote hilly and forest areas, following which police teams reached the locations and carried out searches,' Shukla said at a press conference. He added that investigators are now focused on identifying those responsible. 'We are also collecting details of the persons occupying or using these forest land parcels. Once their role is established, action will be taken under the relevant provisions of law,' he said.
Investigation Focus and What Comes Next
Police have confirmed that the probe will centre on establishing the identities of those who cultivated the cannabis and their connection to the forest land. The multi-district coordination, simultaneous searches, and drone deployment mark a notable escalation in Madhya Pradesh Police's approach to tackling narcotics in remote areas. This comes amid a broader intensification of operations against illegal cultivation, transportation, and trafficking of narcotic substances across the state. Modern surveillance equipment is increasingly being used to penetrate inaccessible terrain where illicit cultivation has historically gone undetected.
Point of View
Drone surveillance, three-district coordination — points to how entrenched illicit cannabis cultivation has become in Madhya Pradesh's forested belt. The fact that all five fields were on forest land raises a sharper question: are lax forest land oversight and weak tenancy records enabling narcotics networks to operate with near-impunity in remote terrain? The Forest Department inquiry will be a key test. If leaseholder and occupant data is missing or disputed, as is common with forest parcels in tribal belt districts, investigators may struggle to build prosecutable cases despite a large-volume seizure.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Barwani cannabis raid?
More than 26,000 cannabis plants weighing over 27 quintals and valued at approximately ₹1.15 crore were seized from five fields in remote forest and hilly areas of Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, on 14 September 2026.
What is Operation Green Strike?
Operation Green Strike is a Madhya Pradesh Police anti-narcotics drive targeting illegal cannabis cultivation in remote and forested areas. In this instance, it involved 12 teams with over 400 personnel from Barwani, Khargone, and Khandwa districts conducting simultaneous raids across 19 villages.
How did police locate the cannabis fields?
Police used drone surveillance to identify suspected cannabis plantations in the difficult hilly and forest terrain. Ground teams then proceeded on foot to reach the precise locations and conduct searches.
Where exactly were the fields found?
The five fields were found in the villages of Dokaliyapani, Dhawaliyagir, Bagdari, Takiyapani, and Adnadi — all located in remote areas under Varla police station limits in Barwani district. All fields were on forest land.
Who is being investigated and what action will be taken?
Police are investigating to identify those who cultivated the cannabis and their connection to the forest land parcels. Barwani SP Padmavilochan Shukla said details have been sought from the Forest Department regarding leaseholders and occupants, and action will be taken under relevant provisions of law once roles are established.
