Sri Vijaya Puram, May 5: Pahargaon police have busted an alleged cannabis cultivation case in Garacharma Basti and arrested a 34-year-old man, in the latest narcotics-related action reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The accused, identified as Tarapada Raul, a native of East Medinipur in West Bengal who is currently residing in Garacharma, has been booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Police said the operation was carried out on May 1 following specific intelligence inputs regarding suspected cannabis cultivation near a rented accommodation in Sagartat Colony. Acting on the information, a team from Police Station Pahargaon reached the spot and conducted a search in the presence of independent witnesses.
During the search, police recovered cannabis plants that were allegedly being cultivated in a plastic pot concealed among bushes in front of the accused’s rented room. The seized material weighed around 37 grams, officials said. Raul was taken into custody at the spot after completion of legal formalities.
The raid was led by Inspector Sahil Shamsuddin, SHO of Police Station Pahargaon, along with sub-inspectors and other personnel. The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior officers of South Andaman district, police said.
Officials added that further investigation is underway to determine whether the cultivation was intended for personal consumption or linked to local distribution.
Rising drug concern
The Garacharma case comes close on the heels of a similar anti-narcotics operation in Little Andaman, pointing to a pattern of small-scale illegal cultivation being detected across the islands. On April 22, police in Hut Bay had seized cannabis plants from a residential property in Katai Ward No. 11 in the R.K. Pur area. The occupant, Diganta Halder, 23, was arrested under the NDPS Act.
While both cases involved relatively small quantities, police officials said the recurrence of such incidents within a short span is a cause for concern. Enforcement agencies have in recent months reported a rise in cases related to cannabis consumption and trafficking, alongside instances involving synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine.
Officials said the pattern suggests that narcotics-related activity in the islands is no longer limited to isolated or large trafficking cases, but is increasingly manifesting in smaller, localised instances of cultivation and use.
Law enforcement agencies indicated that intelligence-based operations, supported by local inputs, have been key to detecting such cases. Surveillance has been stepped up across vulnerable pockets in South Andaman and other regions, particularly where previous incidents have been reported.
Police also pointed to a broader shift in the nature of drug-related cases, with synthetic substances such as methamphetamine appearing alongside traditional cannabis-linked offences. This, officials said, requires a more sustained and multi-pronged enforcement response.
Authorities reiterated that even small-scale cultivation or possession of cannabis attracts strict legal action under the NDPS Act. Officials said the law does not differentiate in terms of intent when it comes to cultivation, and any such activity is liable for prosecution.
Police have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to drug cultivation, possession or trafficking. Information can be shared through emergency helplines or designated police contact numbers, with assurance that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
With back-to-back cases emerging from Garacharma and Little Andaman, officials indicated that anti-drug enforcement efforts are being intensified across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a focus on early detection, community participation and deterrence.
