19 Lakh Ganja Plants Worth ₹100 Crore Destroyed in Tripura’s Biggest Anti-Drug Operation
In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics cultivation, security forces destroyed around 19 lakh ganja plants worth nearly ₹100 crore in Tripura. The large-scale operation was carried out in the Sepahijala district and has been described as the biggest single-day anti-drug drive in the state so far.
In a major anti-narcotics action, around 15 lakh illicit ganja plants over 180 acres were destroyed today at Anandapur-Ghatigarh forest area, Sepahijala, worth approx. ₹75 crore .
Joint operation by Sepahijala District Police, BSF, TSR, Forest Dept. & DCM Sonamura. pic.twitter.com/c1MyvByEzr
— Tripura Police (@Tripura_Police) December 30, 2025
The operation took place on Saturday, January 4, and involved a coordinated effort by the Tripura Police, Border Security Force, and Tripura State Rifles. Officials said the drive reflects Tripura’s intensified push to curb illegal cannabis cultivation and drug trafficking networks.
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Operation Spread Across 650 Acres of Forest Land
The day-long operation covered nearly 650 acres of forest land across the North Kalamchoura, South Kalamchoura, Anandapur, and Ghatigarh areas. These regions are known for their dense vegetation and difficult terrain, which cultivators often exploit to hide illegal plantations.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, authorities deployed a joint force of nearly 600 personnel. Teams trekked through forested hills and remote pockets to uproot and destroy the premature ganja plants. Officials said the scale and coordination involved made it the largest anti-cannabis operation ever conducted in Tripura in a single day.
Drones Play Key Role in Detection
Additional Superintendent of Police Rajib Sutradhar said modern surveillance tools were crucial to the operation’s success. He noted that drones are increasingly being used to locate illegal ganja cultivation in remote forest areas before ground teams move in.
“A total of 19 lakh premature ganja plants worth approximately ₹100 crore were destroyed during Saturday’s operation,” Sutradhar said. He added that similar drives will continue in the coming days as part of a sustained enforcement strategy.
Local Involvement Under Investigation
Police officials said local residents were involved in cultivating ganja on encroached forest land. According to Sonamura Police Station officer-in-charge Tapan Das, the plantations were spread systematically, indicating organised cultivation rather than isolated activity.
However, no arrests have been made so far. Das said investigators are working to identify the individuals and networks responsible. “This is the highest number of ganja plants destroyed in a single-day operation in Tripura,” he noted.
Smuggling Routes Extend Beyond Tripura
Police sources revealed that processed ganja from such plantations is often smuggled to other states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it commands a higher market price. Authorities believe inter-state drug syndicates exploit Tripura’s forest cover and proximity to borders to source narcotics.
Officials said the destruction of such a large quantity of plants has dealt a significant blow to drug supply chains operating in the region.
Government Signals Zero Tolerance on Narcotics
Senior officials reiterated that Tripura has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics cultivation and trafficking. Security agencies plan to intensify surveillance across other vulnerable pockets of the state. Intelligence-led operations, drone mapping, and joint patrols will remain central to the strategy.
The state government has also emphasised coordination between civil administration, forest officials, and security forces to prevent the reuse of encroached land for illegal cultivation.
What Lies Ahead
Authorities said more large-scale operations are likely in the coming weeks. Investigators are also expected to track financial links and supply chains connected to the destroyed plantations. Legal action will follow once the cultivators and facilitators are identified.
The operation marks a major milestone in Tripura’s ongoing war against drugs and sends a strong message to those involved in illegal ganja cultivation.