Bhubaneswar, June 23: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Monday underscored the importance of public awareness and coordinated efforts among enforcement agencies to achieve the vision of a drug-free Odisha.
Chairing the 7th State-Level Meeting of the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Secretary reviewed the state's anti-narcotics initiatives and discussed strategies to strengthen inter-agency coordination, curb drug trafficking, and intensify awareness campaigns against substance abuse.
Delivering the introductory address, Director General of CID-Crime Branch, Odisha, Vinaytosh Mishra, referred to the Union Home Minister's call during the 9th Apex NCORD Meeting in New Delhi earlier this year for realizing the goal of a Drug-Free India. He highlighted the need for a comprehensive action plan to dismantle illegal narcotics supply networks and reviewed the progress made on decisions taken during the 6th State-Level NCORD meeting held on March 20.
A presentation by the Special Task Force (STF) of the CID-Crime Branch revealed significant achievements in the state's crackdown on narcotics. Between 2024 and 2026, authorities seized more than 513 metric tonnes of cannabis, registered 3,238 cases, and arrested 4,534 individuals. During the same period, illegal cannabis cultivation spanning over 69,470 acres was destroyed.
The STF also reported the seizure of over 33 kilograms of brown sugar and more than two lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup. In a major operation along the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, STF personnel arrested seven members of an interstate drug trafficking syndicate and confiscated hashish oil and cannabis valued at approximately ₹230 crore. Officials further informed the meeting about intensified financial investigations targeting assets linked to narcotics trafficking.
Reviewing the state's anti-drug efforts, the Chief Secretary issued several directives aimed at strengthening narcotics control mechanisms. She advised that NCORD-related issues should be regularly reviewed during meetings with district collectors and stressed the importance of meaningful district-level coordination, expeditious disposal of narcotics-related cases, and greater public participation in awareness campaigns.
The meeting also emphasized the promotion of alternative livelihood opportunities and profitable agricultural activities to discourage illegal cannabis cultivation. Highlighting the growing threat of drug abuse among young people, Garg called for large-scale awareness initiatives to educate and protect the youth from narcotics.
Among those present at the meeting were Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Information & Public Relations Department, Hemant Sharma; Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania; DG, CID-Crime Branch, Vinaytosh Mishra; Deputy Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Kolkata, along with senior officials from the Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Excise, Higher Education, School and Mass Education, and Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities departments, as well as representatives of various enforcement agencies. Participants shared their suggestions and outlined measures to further strengthen the state's fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
