AGARTALA: In a major anti-narcotics operation, personnel of the Assam Rifles, in coordination with state and central agencies, have destroyed large-scale illegal ganja cultivation in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, dealing a significant blow to organised drug networks operating in the region. Officials said the illicit cultivation destroyed during the operation was estimated to be worth ₹27 crore in the illegal market.
Our correspondent reports that the joint operation was carried out in forested areas under Kamalnagar and Bijoynagar, located around forty-eight kilometres south of Agartala. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, teams from the Assam Rifles, Tripura Police, Tripura State Rifles, Border Security Force and the Forest Department launched a coordinated drive to identify and eliminate cannabis plantations hidden deep inside forest land.
During the operation, security personnel uprooted and destroyed nearly one lakh eighty thousand ganja plants, spread across multiple patches of encroached forest areas. Officials said the cultivation was systematically organised, indicating the involvement of well-established networks that use remote and difficult terrain to evade detection.
A senior Assam Rifles official said the operation reflects the force’s sustained commitment to combating drug trafficking and preventing misuse of forest land. “This coordinated action demonstrates our resolve to dismantle illegal cultivation and disrupt the supply chain of narcotics. Such operations will continue in close cooperation with civil and security agencies,” the official said.
The operation was conducted over several hours, with teams combing dense vegetation to ensure that no cultivation patches were left intact. Officials said special care was taken to document the extent of the destroyed crop and to secure the area to prevent re-cultivation. Forest officials accompanying the teams assessed the environmental damage caused by illegal farming and initiated steps for restoration.
Our correspondent adds that the Sepahijala district has emerged as a key focus area in recent months as authorities intensify efforts against narcotics cultivation. Security agencies have observed a pattern of repeated attempts to grow cannabis in forest land due to its high commercial value and relative ease of concealment.
Officials said that while local consumption of ganja in Tripura is limited, large quantities are cultivated for trafficking to other states where demand and prices are significantly higher. Several consignments of processed ganja have been intercepted in recent months during transportation attempts, prompting tighter surveillance and intelligence-based operations.
Residents of nearby villages have, in the past, cited economic hardship as a reason for involvement in illegal cultivation. However, authorities stressed that such activities not only violate the law but also damage forest ecosystems and contribute to wider criminal networks. “Encroachment and illegal cultivation degrade forests and threaten biodiversity. We are equally focused on protecting the environment and ensuring law and order,” a forest department official said.
The crackdown is part of a broader campaign under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which strictly prohibits cultivation, possession, transport and sale of cannabis. Officials noted that violations under the Act carry stringent penalties, including long prison terms and heavy fines, underscoring the seriousness of the offence.
Senior police officers emphasised that coordinated, multi-agency action is essential to address narcotics challenges in border and forested regions like Tripura. “No single agency can tackle this alone. Intelligence sharing and joint field operations are critical to breaking the cycle of illegal cultivation and trafficking,” an officer said.
Authorities indicated that similar operations are planned in other vulnerable pockets of the state in the coming weeks. Surveillance has been intensified, and local administrations have been instructed to remain vigilant against any attempts to revive illegal cultivation.
Our correspondent reports that the successful destruction of ganja cultivation worth ₹27 crore sends a strong message to drug networks that security forces are actively monitoring and acting against such activities. Officials said sustained enforcement, along with awareness and alternative livelihood initiatives, will be key to ensuring that illegal cultivation does not re-emerge.
The operation marks another step in the state’s ongoing efforts to curb narcotics, protect forest resources and maintain public safety, with security agencies reaffirming their commitment to continue strict action against drug-related crimes.
