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 28.12.2022 on the decision of Drug Disposal Committee led by SP, STF, BBSR, 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. 915 gram in 01 Cases i.e. STF PS Case Nos. 15/2021 U/s. 21(c)/29 NDPS Act and Ganja i.e. 1785 Kg in 02 case i.e. STF PS Case Nos. 13/2022 & 15/2022 U/s. 20(b)(ii)(C)/29 NDPS Act,1985 respectively, which were seized from the 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 23 kg 484 gm brown sugar in 18 cases and 55 Qtls 92 kg Ganja in 08 cases including today’s destruction.
Similarly, Odisha Police has disposed/ destructed more than 700 Qtl. Ganja in 238 Cases and more than 28 kg Brown Sugar in 38 Cases.
