In a decisive move to accelerate Odisha’s journey towards a drug-free state, Chief Secretary Anu Garg today chaired the 7th state-level meeting of the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) at Lok Seva Bhavan.
The high-level meeting brought together top officials from police, excise, forest, education and social welfare departments to review enforcement actions and chart a stronger roadmap for “Nisha Mukta Odisha”.
The meeting assumed special significance as senior officers presented impressive enforcement figures that reflect the state’s aggressive crackdown on the illicit drug trade. Between 2024 and June 2026, Odisha police and the Special Task Force (STF) of CID-Crime Branch have seized more than 513 metric tonnes of ganja, registered 3,238 cases and arrested 4,534 persons. Over 69,470 acres of illegal ganja cultivation have been destroyed. In addition, more than 33 kg of brown sugar and over two lakh bottles of codeine-mixed cough syrup have been confiscated.
A major highlight was a recent special operation on the Andhra-Odisha border in which seven members of an interstate drug trafficking network were arrested, and hashish oil, along with ganja worth approximately Rs 230 crore, were seized. Officials also informed that the financial investigation of properties linked to drug syndicates has been intensified.
Addressing the meeting, CS Garg stressed the need for a multi-pronged strategy. She directed that NCORD-related actions be regularly reviewed in district-level meetings chaired by Collectors. She called for more effective district-level coordination meetings, speedy trial of narcotics cases, and wider public awareness campaigns, especially targeting the youth.“Destroying the supply chain alone is not enough. We must also provide sustainable alternative livelihoods to farmers engaged in illegal cultivation and create strong awareness among young people so they stay away from drugs,” the Chief Secretary observed.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, DGP Y.B. Khurania, DIG CID-Crime Branch Binaytosh Mishra, Deputy Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau (Kolkata zone) and senior officers from various departments participated in the deliberations.
The meeting also reviewed the follow-up action taken on decisions of the previous 6th state-level NCORD meeting and the directives issued at the 9th Apex NCORD meeting held in New Delhi.
With focused enforcement, robust inter-departmental coordination and sustained awareness drives, Odisha is steadily moving closer to its goal of becoming a drug-free state. Today’s meeting has set the tone for even more coordinated and result-oriented action in the coming months.
