SSB and Arunachal Pradesh Police Seize Over 325 kg Cannabis; One Arrested

In a major joint operation, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Arunachal Pradesh Police seized approximately 325.5 kg of cannabis (ganja) in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, leading to the arrest of one suspect. The operation was carried out by personnel from the 61st Battalion of the SSB stationed at Bhairabkunda. This crackdown follows a similar operation weeks prior, when Assam Police intercepted over 307 kg of cannabis along the border with Arunachal Pradesh. According to law enforcement officials, Arunachal Pradesh has emerged as a key region for the illicit cultivation of narcotics such as opium and cannabis. Smugglers and cultivators often exploit the state's remote locations and rugged terrain, believing the geography will shield their illegal activities from detection by security personnel. However, security agencies have significantly expanded anti-narcotics drives across the region. Following directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under the national 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' initiative, agencies are maintaining strict vigil across northeastern states situated near the 'Golden Triangle' transit route. State authorities have simultaneously targeted illegal crop cultivation. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta recently confirmed that administration teams have destroyed over 18.587 acres of illegal poppy (opium) and 64.59 acres of cannabis crops across the state. An official highlighted the strategic importance of these operations, noting that illicit drug trades in border states are often tied to broader criminal networks and insurgent financing. Officials noted that insurgent groups frequently promote drug trade for profit and use it as a recruitment tool among local youth. To combat this, Central Armed Police Forces—including the SSB and Assam Rifles—are actively collaborating with local law enforcement across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Enhanced coordination and improved intelligence networks have led to the recovery of thousands of kilograms of both locally cultivated and cross-border smuggled narcotics in recent months, with further operations underway to dismantle identified trafficking syndicates.