70 acres of ganja cultivation destroyed in Koyyuru Mandal, Visakhapatnam

Teams of the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) and Visakhapatnam Police (Rural) together destroyed 70 acres of ganja cultivation on Thursday at Koyyuru Mandal in Visakhapatnam Agency. The cultivation destroyed falls within the Annavaram and Gorlametta villages, of the Budaralla Panchayat, in the Koyyuru Mandal. Bush-cutters were employed by the officials in this process.

This operation was conducted as part of the Parivartana Programme, by the Andhra Pradesh Police, to curb ganja production in the Visakhapatnam Agency area. These operations are being conducted under the supervision of Visakhapatnam Superintendent of Police (Rural), Boddepalli Krishna Rao IPS, and SEB Joint Director, Sathish Kumar IPS. On the same day, around 11 acres of ganja cultivation was also destroyed near Marripalem, of GK Veedhi Mandal, in Visakhapatnam District.

A similar razing was conducted earlier in the month when around 80 acres of ganja cultivation was destroyed in G Madugula Mandal. After awareness campaigns by the District Police on the harms of ganja, many locals have also joined the fight and are voluntarily participating in the destruction of ganja cultivation in various areas. Village Sarpanches have also come forward and are now contributing towards this cause.

Meanwhile, around 34 kg of ganja was seized at Labburu Junction in Munchingput Mandal of the Visakhapatnam District. Two smugglers were arrested in this regard while one of the accused managed to escape. A Bolero, bike and scooty were also seized from the spot. The ganja seized is said to be worth about Rs. 68,000 in the market. Police are searching for the third suspect.