Tripura police destroy over 5 lakh Ganja plants worth Rs 75 Cr in Sepahijala district

In one of the biggest crackdowns on illegal cannabis cultivation in Tripura, state police, along with other security forces, destroyed more than five lakh ganja plants worth an estimated Rs 75 crore during a massive operation in the Sepahijala district.

Police sources said the large-scale operation was carried out on February 1 and 2 in forest areas of Dulunga under the Sonamura subdivision. Acting on confidential inputs, the forces conducted raids at 92 separate ganja cultivation sites spread across nearly 170 acres of government forest land. All the plants were uprooted and destroyed on the spot.

Despite resistance from some villagers and alleged smugglers, the security forces continued the operation without interruption. According to police, this destruction drive ranks among the most significant in recent years undertaken by the Tripura Police.

Personnel from Sonamura and Jatrapur police stations, along with the Border Security Force (BSF), Tripura State Rifles (TSR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Forest Department guards, participated in the coordinated operation.

Senior police officials stated that such joint operations would continue to curb illegal ganja cultivation and protect forest land from encroachment and misuse. Investigations have also been initiated to identify and apprehend smugglers involved in cultivating cannabis on government forest land.

It may be recalled that over the past two months, Sepahijala district police, in coordination with other security agencies, have intensified their crackdown to bring illegal cannabis cultivation to zero. During this period, ganja plants worth crores of rupees have been destroyed across hundreds of acres of forest land.

While the destruction was underway, some cultivators reportedly pleaded with the police to spare their crops, citing financial hardships such as arranging money for their daughters’ marriages or sustaining their families. However, officials did not entertain any requests and continued the drive.

A senior police official said that future operations would continue until complete elimination of illegal cannabis cultivation. Police further noted that many farmers had been lured into ganja cultivation by the promise of quick and high profits, but the administration has shattered those expectations through decisive and sustained action.

Police reiterated that similar drives would continue in the coming days to completely eradicate illegal cannabis cultivation in the district.