In the first case of pre-trial disposal of drugs in Odisha, the STF destroyed over one kilograms of brown sugar valued at over Rs one crore strictly in conformity with Orissa High Court directions.

It’s pertinent to note here that a division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. S Muralidhar and Justice A K Mohapatra had earlier sought the disposal of narcotics seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

“Section 52A NDPS Act,1985 provides for disposal of all seized drugs and psychotropic substances having regard to the hazardous nature, vulnerability to theft, substitution, constraints of proper storage space soon after their seizure following due procedure of law.

In the recent years during the massive campaign against narcotics 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 and court Malkhanas exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities.

The piling up of seized drugs has been a cause of concern and the Supreme Court in the case of Union of India Vs Mohanlal passed a detailed order on disposal/ destruction of seized drugs especially emphasising on pre-trial disposal of seized drugs”, the STF said in a statement on Saturday.

Accordingly, the first ever case of pre-trial disposal of the seized narcotic drugs was taken up by the Special Task Force and a bulk quantity of seized brown sugar weighing 1 kg 305 was destroyed.

The seized drugs were first authenticated and certificated by a concerned court and handed over to the Drug disposal committee for destruction. On the decision of the Committee , yesterday the Committee led by SP, STF, Deputy Collector, Khodha, Superintendent of Excise Khurda, DSP, STF in presence of Scientific Officers of State Forensic Science laboratory and Member of State Pollution Board disposed of destroyed the confiscated drugs at a designated incinerator following all due procedure, STF added.

Odisha police have made a seizure of around 4,500 quintals of cannabis and 104 kg of brown sugar seized in the last three years. These banned substances are piled up in various courts and police station Malkhana waiting for destruction. It is being planned that most of the seized drugs will be destroyed within 3 to six months.