Cannabis worth Rs 315 crore seized in Orissa - Minister

Bhubaneswar, Mar 18 (UNI) Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty today directed Excise Minister Debi Prasad Mishra to intensify the excise raid to check illegal drugs trade.

The Speaker's direction came after the members expressed their concern over the flourishing trade in contraband goods in the state during the question hour.

To a question of Mr Pravat Ranjan Biswal(Ind), the Minister said the Excise Department had seized cannabis worth Rs 315 crore and destroyed 31.50 lakh plants till February this year in the state.

He said the personnel of the Excise department were keeping a strict vigil on the cultivation and trade in contraband goods, including ganja, and conducting regular raids to check the trade.

He said during 2002-03 as many as 43 cases were filed under the NDPS Act and 53 people arrested, while 44 cases were filed and 34 arrested in the next year.

While 56 cases were registered and 51 arrested in 2004-05, 37 cases were registered and 26 arrested in 2005-06.

During 2006-07 as many as 56 cases were registered and 54 people arrested, he said.

UNI BD SJC DB1836