A significant crackdown on illegal narcotics took place in the Aurangabad district of Bihar, where administration officials destroyed poppy cultivation spread across 15 acres. The operation targeted the dense forest areas of Badam Pahar in the Madanpur block. For the first time in this region, authorities utilized drone technology to locate hidden illegal farming plots situated in rugged and inaccessible terrain.
High-tech surveillance and joint team effort
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ruchi Singh led this extensive campaign to clear the forests of illegal activities. A special joint task force was created for this mission, bringing together the Forest Department, the Excise Department, and the local Madanpur Police. Since the region is known for Naxalite influence, CRPF personnel provided security cover to the teams during the raids.
The use of drones played a vital role in this success. Smugglers often use difficult hilly areas to hide opium crops, but the aerial survey removed these blind spots. DFO Ruchi Singh stated that technology has made it easier to pinpoint exact locations without alerting the offenders beforehand.
Constant monitoring in other forest areas
The administration has announced that this operation is part of a larger phase-wise strategy to make the area drug-free. Following the destruction of crops in Badam Pahar, the teams are now moving to scan other forest zones. Specific areas like Ranikola, Khodilwa, and Narchua are currently under the scanner for potential illegal plots.
Authorities are also taking legal steps against those involved in this trade. Officials are verifying land records to identify the owners of the plots where opium was being grown. Strict action, including the filing of FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, is being taken against the culprits to stop the funding of extremist groups through narcotics.
