Bhubaneswar, December 3: Odisha Police has ramped up its crackdown on illegal ganja cultivation, destroying 18,111 acres of illegal crops using advanced surveillance tools. Drones and satellite imagery have helped pinpoint hidden plantations in difficult terrains, allowing swift action by special anti-narcotics squads across the state.

So far, 473 cases related to ganja smuggling and cultivation have been filed, with Boudh district leading with 181 cases and over 7,757 acres destroyed, followed by Kandhamal, which saw the clearance of 9,313 acres. Other key districts include Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Ganjam, which have been targeted in the operation.

Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania praised the operation's success and affirmed that the campaign will continue aggressively until March 2026.