Law enforcement agencies in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district are grappling with a dramatic escalation in narcotics-related crime, with cases and arrests under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act skyrocketing over the past year. The surge is primarily attributed to an intensified illegal flow of cannabis from neighboring Odisha into Andhra Pradesh and beyond.
Alarming Statistics Reveal a Growing Menace
The data presents a stark picture of the challenge. Cases registered under the NDPS Act in Srikakulam district leaped by over 160 per cent, climbing from 52 in 2024 to 137 in 2025. Similarly, arrests connected to the cannabis trade witnessed a 70 per cent increase, rising from 163 in 2024 to 288 in 2025.
The volume of contraband seized tells a similar story. Police confiscated approximately 1,330 kilograms of dry cannabis in 2024. This figure jumped to around 1,770 kilograms of dry ganja in 2025. Authorities also impounded 32 vehicles used in the illicit trade in 2025, compared to 17 the previous year.
The Interstate Network and Modus Operandi
A significant facet of this trade is its interstate nature. Out of the 288 individuals arrested in 2025, roughly 200 accused hailed from other states. Smugglers procure cannabis, particularly a strain known as Sheelavathi, from areas like Brahmapur and Parlakhemundi in Odisha. The contraband is then smuggled across the border into Srikakulam.
The price of Sheelavathi has soared in the black market, now commanding between Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 1.7 lakh per kilogram, according to a senior police officer. The gangs, which sometimes include women, employ clever tactics to avoid detection. They often pose as regular passengers, favoring general compartments on trains to transport the weed to major metropolitan hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
"On average, we seize 2 to 5 kgs of weed and arrest two to three people near railway stations in the district every alternate day," revealed a police official. While general coaches are preferred, smugglers occasionally use reserved compartments as well.
Police Response and Future Action
The sharp rise in numbers is partly a result of heightened vigilance and frequent raids by enforcement agencies. Srikakulam District Police Chief KV Maheswara Reddy stated that they have intensified surprise checks to curb smuggling. The police have also identified 16 repeat offenders under the NDPS Act.
Authorities plan to invoke the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in NDPS Act (PIT NDPS), 1988, against nine of these habitual offenders. This move is aimed at disrupting the networks that continue to operate despite strict enforcement, as smugglers exploit routes through Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and ASR districts to transport drugs across the country.
