Vizag police to use drones to curb ganja smuggling in inaccessible areas

In a recent plan chalked out by the police and prohibition and excise departments, unmanned drones are likely to be deployed in the inaccessible border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to curb ganja cultivation there. The data collected by the drone will then be used to make plans to check the cultivation and smuggling of ganja in Vizag and Godavari districts.

The state agencies will also enforce the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act will also sought the help of Central agencies for better coordination to crush the network of ganja smugglers. Meanwhile, the additional director general of police Harish Kumar Gupta reviewed the entire nexus along with stakeholders like the prohibition and Excise, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Customs, all departments of police and Narcotics Control Bureau.

GIS mapping may also be used, apart from deploying drones, especially in the interior parts of the East Godavari and Andhra Odisha border that are inaccessible due to the terrain or Maoist influence. Some of the other techniques in pipeline include deploying Aerostats, which are balloons fitted with high-resolution cameras. The state agents are have spoken to Israeli technicians to improve the technology for vigilance. A dog squad will also be built to address the ganja issue in the area. 

Meanwhile, speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Director of Prohibition and Excise K. Venkateswara Rao said that some officials are supporting the ganja peddlers secretly. While action will be taken against them, measures to check the maoists encouraging tribal farmers to grow ganja will also be formulated. 

Drones have multiple usage these days. Apart from maintaining security vigilance at the border, they are also being used for surveying, mapping and inspection in various sectors like agriculture, geology, roadways, and more. 

• andhra pradesh
• south