A joint operation led by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has cleared approximately 458 acres of illegal cannabis cultivation in the Kalaktang subdivision of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. The operation destroyed more than 1.37 lakh kg of cannabis plants, which were primarily being grown on community land.
The operation involved multiple teams from the NCB's Itanagar Zonal Unit, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Arunachal Pradesh Police and the district administration. Around 118 personnel and workers participated in the operation, which was conducted between Oct 26 and Nov 3.
First phase of a wider crackdown
The operation is being considered the first phase of a wider crackdown planned by the NCB in the region. According to the bureau, the total area cleared of illegal cannabis cultivation across Arunachal Pradesh in 2026 so far is more than eight times the area cleared during the whole of 2025.
The ground survey was conducted by the West Kameng Police and district administration, with satellite imagery provided by the NCB helping teams identify cultivation sites in difficult-to-access areas.
Further joint operations are expected to target areas identified for illegal cannabis and opium poppy cultivation. The planned crackdown on opium poppy cultivation includes Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Namsai, Anjaw, Tirap,
Changlang and Longding districts.
#WATCH | West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: A joint multi-agency team has successfully cleared approximately 458 acres of illicit cannabis cultivation in the Kalaktang subdivision of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. Conducted as the first phase of an intensive eradication drive from October 26 to November 3, 2026, the operation led to the destruction of over 1.37 lakh kg of cannabis plants primarily cultivated on community lands. (Source: NCB)
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2026
Similar operations in other states
The NCB has also been involved in similar operations in other parts of the country. In Himachal Pradesh, an NCB-led drive cleared approximately 592 acres of illegal cannabis cultivation in Kullu's Parvati Valley.
In Odisha, the bureau joined the launch of the state's Mission Zero Cannabis Cultivation initiative in Kandhamal and Boudh districts. Around 30 acres of illegal cultivation were cleared in Kandhamal as part of the initiative.
The NCB has urged members of the public to report information about illegal narcotics cultivation and drug trafficking. People can share information confidentially through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline at 1933, which is toll-free.
The NCB is taking a wider, coordinated approach to these operations by involving local police, district administrations and other government agencies in identifying and clearing illegal cultivation sites. The operations are part of the broader Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029), which calls for coordinated action by central, state and district-level agencies.
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