Date:20/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/20/stories/2006092006590700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ganja farms on Karnataka-A.P. border raided

Staff Correspondent

Estimated at Rs. 50 lakh in the international market

Bidar: The Bidar police raided some Ganja fields in Aurad taluk on Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border and seized 10 tonnes of the crop of the banned substance estimated at Rs. 50 lakh in the international market on Tuesday.

Four persons have been arrested in this connection.

Acting on a tip off, the district crime investigation branch and the Aurad police raided fields at Dama Tanda and Border Tanda near Jambagi village in the morning.

The crop was surrounded by Jowar crop on all the four sides.

The crop was ready for harvest. The crop would be cut and produced during investigation, the police said.

The cultivators planned to sell the produce in Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Gulbarga, the police said.

"The ganja crop is wet and will reduce its weight by half after it becomes dry," Superintendent of Police Roopa Divakar said.

She told presspersons that dry Ganja was usually sold at Rs. 1,500 per kg in the international market.

"Today's cache is valued at Rs. 50 lakh. We have registered cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against 10 persons who were involved in its cultivation. Four of the ten accused, Harishchandra Rathod, Nagendra Rathod, Lakhsman Rathod, and Maruti Rathod have been arrested. The others are absconding," she said.