Kerala youth migrate to Odisha, Andhra to work in 'ganja' farms

Though Idukki has shaken off its tag as the ganja producer in Kerala, it remains a major hub of ganja smuggling. From bathroom plantations to camouflaged courier packs, ganja peddlers in Kerala have found indigenous ways to source the contraband from other states.
 

Latest reports reveal that youth from Idukki district are being recruited to Ganja fields in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. With no forests left in Idukki, to plant ganja, and Excise and Narcotics wings tightening their grips, the youth find migration to other states an easy way to make some quick money. 
 

Maoist belts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are the major ganja exporting centres in the country. Mafia comprising Malayali youths are operating ganja cultivation and transportation to other states from seven districts on Andhra-Chhattisgarh border, four districts in Chhattisgarh and six districts in Andhra Pradesh. Siripuram in Andhra is known as a university where youth are trained to process ganja leaves and extract hashish and cannabene from them.
 

Some of them have moved to Rayagada, the tribal belt in Odisha, where ganja is grown in acres of land. Narasipattanam only 30 km from Siripuram is another place where ganja is cultivated in plenty. Police and other government agencies do not have access to these areas which are under the control of Maoists. 
 

Several Keralites were arrested, and about 30 persons are serving imprisonment in different jails in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. As many as 13 persons from Kerala are serving life imprisonment in Berhampore Central jail. Those arrested in Odisha won't get bail and courts are also adopting a tough stance against them as ganja is a primary source of income of Maoists. 

• Odisha ganja cultivation
• Andhra ganja cultivation
• Kerala youth migrate to Andhra
• Odisha migration
• Maoist belt
• Ganja cultivation
• ganja export