NCB Launches Major Crackdown On Illegal Cannabis Cultivation, Destroys Crops Across 458 Acres

New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has carried out a major operation against illegal cannabis cultivation in the remote mountainous areas of Arunachal Pradesh, destroying crops spread across approximately 458 acres of land. More than 137,000 kilograms of cannabis plants were eliminated during the joint operation in the Kalaktang subdivision of West Kameng district.

The first phase of the operation was conducted between October 26 and November 3, 2026, under the leadership of the NCB's Itanagar Zonal Unit. A total of 118 personnel from multiple agencies participated in the campaign, including the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Arunachal Pradesh Police, State Narcotics Control Task Force and district administration.

The teams worked across difficult mountainous terrain to identify and eliminate illegal cannabis plantations as part of the nationwide effort to curb drug production.

How did authorities identify the illegal plantations?

Locating cannabis cultivation hidden in remote and inaccessible areas was a major challenge for the enforcement agencies. Satellite imagery provided by the NCB, along with ground surveys conducted by West Kameng Police and the district administration, helped identify the locations of illegal plantations.

Using this information, joint teams carried out field operations and destroyed the identified crops. Officials said most of the illegal cultivation was taking place on community-owned land.

How does the 2026 action compare with last year?

According to the NCB, the total area cleared of illegal cannabis cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh during 2026 so far is more than eight times the area cleared throughout 2025.

The agency has also identified locations where illegal opium poppy cultivation is taking place. The next phase of operations is expected to cover Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Namsai, Anjaw, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts, targeting illegal poppy plantations.

What action has been taken in other states?

The NCB has also extended its anti-drug cultivation operations to other parts of the country. In Himachal Pradesh's Parvati Valley in Kullu, illegal cultivation spread across approximately 592 acres was previously cleared.

In Odisha, the agency supported the state government's Mission Zero Cannabis Cultivation initiative in Kandhamal and Boudh districts. As part of the initial campaign, illegal cannabis plantations spread across around 30 acres in Kandhamal were removed.

These operations are being carried out under the 2026-2029 Narcotics Control Vision Document, which aims to strengthen coordination between central, state and district-level agencies to tackle illegal drug cultivation networks.

The NCB has also appealed to citizens to report information about illegal cannabis or opium cultivation and drug trafficking. People can share information confidentially through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline at 1933.