Police bust marijuana racket in Assam

GUWAHATI - A multi-crore international marijuana racket was busted Wednesday in Assam with authorities destroying up to 2,000 kg of the contraband substance on the outskirts of Guwahati.

A police spokesperson said marijuana cultivation spread over an estimated seven acres of land was destroyed at Jursimolu village, about 50 km west of here.

“Based on specific inputs, we raided the village and (were) surprised to find marijuana being cultivated in a massive way,” H.K. Nath, additional police chief of Kamrup Rural district, told IANS.

“We managed to destroy about 2,000 kg of marijuana cultivated in an area spread over seven acres of land.”

Police said the area was inhabited by illegal Bangladeshi migrant settlers.

“Locals said crude marijuana is stacked in sacks mixed with garlic and jute and transported to Bangladesh using the river route,” the police official said.

“We are investigating the matter and the possibility of some drug lord operating this racket cannot be ruled out.”

Locals, however, alleged that there was a nexus between the police and the marijuana farmers as a police outpost was located just about two kilometres from the village.

“We shall continue with our operation and wipe out the entire cultivation. We found people in their backyards also cultivating marijuana, besides in huge tracts of land close to the river bank,” Nath said.

A kilogram of marijuana sells at about Rs.5,000.