Green drug trade on a high in red flag areas

VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam has emerged as a safe haven for ganja smugglers for the past few years. Thousands of kgs of ganja was seized by excise and police departments in last few years. But that is only tip of an iceberg, claim the same officials pointing out that major amount goes undetected as the ganja is cultivated in tribal areas where Maoists dictate terms.According to official sources, about 10,000 kgs of dry ganja was seized in 2010 and 3,000 kgs from January to May this year which speaks volumes of flourishing ganja cultivation in the district.Ganja smugglers from neighbouring states, particularly Tamil Nadu, have been encouraging tribals to cultivate cannabis in vast tracts of fertile valleys by investing huge amount. The smugglers are also helping the locals in providing modern equipment and latest techniques.For transport, the smugglers take the railway route. They prefer general coach in Express trains to smuggle contraband from Anakapalle and Narsipatnam Road.Trains originating from Howrah and Visakhapatnam are their prime sources of transportation.Railway police and excise officials seized at least two tonnes of cannabis and hemp from Express trains last year. Good quality ganja (Sheelavati), which the drug lords buy at Rs 2,000 a kg in tribal areas, is sold at Rs 8,000 in places like Chennai.Deputy Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise P Chandramouli said Tamilians, settled in tribal-dominated areas, in the name of business are playing a vital role in smuggling ganja to Chennai. He claimed that around 100 acres of ganja fields in tribal areas have been destroyed.Inaccessible terrain and Maoist threat are coming in the way of Excise sleuths and police to check the menace. Ganja cultivation is usually taken up in fields in the midst of other crops including chilli and maize.An official said they were aware that ganja was being cultivated in large tracts on Andhra-Odisha border but are unable to go there.Since the areas are Maoist strongholds, even police do not dare to go there. In Tamil Nadu, ganja chocolates are prepared by mixing jaggery and ganja and packed neatly to be sold at Rs 100 per chocolate.Those are also smuggled to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.