Mysore/Mysuru: Additional Superintendent of Police C. Mallik has said cannabis (ganja) plants are often cultivated clandestinely among crops such as marigold and pigeon pea and directed officials of the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments to conduct regular field inspections to detect illegal cultivation.

Speaking at the Narco Coordination (NCORD) Committee meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office yesterday, Mallik warned that drug abuse poses a serious threat to society and called for intensified awareness campaigns to curb both sales and consumption of narcotics.

He said June 26, observed as the International Day Against Drug Abuse, would be marked with awareness programmes involving college students and various Government Departments.

Similarly, innovative campaigns will be organised on May 31 as part of World No Tobacco Day to highlight the harmful effects of smoking, including passive smoking.

Referring to de-addiction centres operating in the district, Mallik instructed officials to ensure strict compliance with prescribed norms. Hostels were also advised to install CCTV cameras to monitor student activities and keep track of food parcels ordered from outside.

Sharing recent data, officials said the Health Department’s COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003) division registered 561 cases in April and collected Rs. 1.25 lakh fines.

The Excise Department reported 20 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in rural Mysuru, leading to the arrest of 14 persons and seizure of 58.335 kg of ganja and 50 live cannabis plants.

The meeting was attended by ACP Manoj Kumar from Mysuru City Police Commissioner’s office, Assistant Drug Controllers B.V. Ashalatha and Waseem Ur Rehaman Shariff, Assistant Director, Department of Information and Public Relations Nirmala, among others.