Forested and tribal-dominated Gajapati district has increasingly become a safe haven for illegal cannabis cultivation, with authorities reporting seizures worth Rs 314 crore in the past year. According to officials, dense forest areas and remote hilly terrains have enabled organised rackets to expand cannabis plantations by exploiting impoverished tribal residents, who are allegedly paid meagre wages to cultivate the crop on forest and government land.

Data from the district Excise department show that cannabis worth Rs 104.06 crore was seized during 2023–24, with 526 people arrested in multiple cases. In 2024–25, seizures surged drastically to Rs 314.96 crore, and 718 people were arrested. For the current year (2025– 26) so far, cannabis valued at Rs 7.02 crore has already been confiscat

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