Odisha STF Sets Record by Destroying 220 Tonnes of Drugs Worth Rs 600 Crore

Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police has set a new record in the disposal of banned drug substances. Over the past year, they destroyed 220 tonnes of cannabis and 78 kilograms of brown sugar, with a combined value of over Rs 600 crore. This drug destruction drive was carried out on 10 June last year, following the directions of the Orissa High Court and in accordance with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the certification and authentication of seized narcotics.

The efforts of the Odisha police in accelerating the pretrial disposal of seized drugs have been commended by the Orissa High Court on two occasions. The Court expressed appreciation for the work done by the officials and expects the same level of dedication in the future. In 1434 cases, a record 220 tons of cannabis were destroyed, along with more than 78 kg of brown sugar in 129 cases, under strict rules and regulations.

The disposal/destruction of seized drugs involves a complex process that includes multiple stakeholders such as the judiciary, police, forensic science laboratory, pollution control, excise, revenue, and government departments. This process is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, specifically subsection (3) of section 52A.

To facilitate the destruction of drugs, a committee headed by the Superintendent of Police has been established in each district and establishment. The committee consists of members such as the Excise Superintendent, Deputy Collector, and Deputy Superintendent of Police. Once the chemical examination report is received from the Forensic Science Laboratories, the Investigating Officer (IO) seeks certification of the seized contrabands’ inventory from the relevant court. The court appoints a judicial magistrate to certify the correctness of the inventory. After certification, the court orders the disposal of drugs and hands over the contraband to the IO.

Following the destruction of the seized drugs, the chairman of the Drug Disposal Committee notifies the Additional Director General of the Police, Crime Branch, and sends a copy of the destruction certificate to the trial court concerned. The STF’s ongoing initiative, with the assistance of the police and other enforcement agencies, aims to make Odisha free from the grip of drug peddlers.