SHIMLA/NERWA: Cracking down on the illegal drug trade, a joint team of the Revenue Department, Forest Department and Police on Sunday destroyed more than 4 lakh cannabis plants spread over nearly 10 bighas of secluded forest land in the Kufardhar area of Nerwa tehsil in Shimla district.
Acting on a tip-off, the police launched a special operation in the remote forest area where cannabis had been cultivated illegally.
The team uprooted and destroyed the entire crop on the spot to prevent it from being processed into hashish.
Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons under the relevant provisions of law. Investigators are now trying to identify those behind the illegal cultivation and trace the network involved in the trade.
The operation is part of an intensified anti-cannabis drive being carried out across Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts, which have emerged as hotspots for illicit cannabis cultivation in Himachal Pradesh.
The rugged terrain and dense forests have made enforcement a challenge, with cultivators often choosing remote locations to evade detection.
Though cannabis grows naturally in parts of the state, its illegal cultivation for commercial purposes is a serious concern.
The harvested crop is processed into hashish (charas), which fetches high prices in domestic and international illegal drug markets, making it a lucrative business for traffickers despite repeated enforcement action.
