Disposal /Destruction of seized Narcotic Drugs by Odisha Police
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar:In the recent years during the massive campaign against the narcotics especially Ganja (also known as Cannabis/ Marijuana/ weeds) and Brown sugar (also known as Heroin/ smack) by Odisha police, there has been huge piling up of seized narcotic drugs. As the trial of narcotics cases takes time, these seized drugs remain stocked at police stations/ court Malkhanas exposed to all kind of vulnerabilities.
The piling up of seized drugs has been a cause of concern and honorable Supreme Court in the case of Union of India Vrs. Mohanlal & others passed a detailed order on disposal/ destruction of seized drugs especially emphasizing on pre trial disposal of seized drugs. However because of some procedural and technical ambiguity/ issues, seized drugs could not be disposed of. In this backdrop, STF approached the Hon’ble High Court of Odisha with a prayer for certain direction/ order to resolve the issues/ hindrances involved in disposing of the seized drugs. Finally on 31.01.2022, Hon’ble High Court of Odisha pleased to pass a land mark judgment directing the Sub-ordinate courts to dispose the applications filed U/s. Sec.52A of NDPS Act, 1985 issuing a detailed SOP in this regard.
Accordingly, today i.e. on 12.12.2022 on the decision of High Level Drug Disposal Committee led by Shri J N Pankaj, IPS, DIG of Police, STF, Bhubaneswar, SP, STF, BBSR, SP, CID,CB, Cuttack, Deputy Collector, Khodha, Superintendent of Excise, Khordha, DSP, STF in presence of Scientific Officers of State Forensic Science laboratory and Member of State Pollution Board disposed/destructed bulk quantity of contraband Brown Sugar i.e. 01 kg in 01 Cases i.e. STF PS Case Nos. 17/2020 U/s. 21(c)/29 NDPS Act and Ganja i.e. 1992 Kg in 01 case i.e. STF PS Case Nos. 01/2011 U/s.. 20(b)(ii)(C)/29 NDPS Act,1985 respectively, which were seized from the exclusive possession of accused persons, at a designated incinerator i.e. Sani Clean Pvt. Ltd. Tangiapada, Khordha following all due procedure. The seized drugs/Ganja was first authenticated/ certificated by concerned court and handed over to Drug disposal committee for the disposal/ destruction.
Till date STF has destructed/disposed of 22 kg 569 gm brown sugar in 17 cases and 38 Qtls 09 kg Ganja in 06 cases including today’s destruction.
Similarly, Odisha Police has disposed/ destructed more than 535 Qtl. Ganja in 227 Cases and more than 27 kg Brown Sugar in 35 Cases.
