Sonamura, February 5, 2026:
Acting on specific secret information, security forces carried out a massive anti-narcotics operation on Wednesday, leading to the destruction of a large-scale illegal ganja cultivation spread across forest land in the Sonamura subdivision of Tripura.
The operation was conducted from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm in the forested areas of Mainama, Aralia and Paoramura. During the extensive raid and search, the joint team detected a total of 25 ganja plantation plots hidden deep inside forest land. Officials said the illegal cultivation covered an estimated area of nearly 32 acres.
During the operation, approximately 90,000 mature ganja plants were identified and destroyed on the spot as per legal procedures. According to preliminary estimates, the total market value of the destroyed contraband is around ₹13 crore and 5 lakh, indicating the scale of the illicit activity operating in the region.
The operation was carried out jointly by Sonamura Police Station personnel along with reinforcements from the 11th Battalion of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and the 14th Battalion of TSR. The coordinated effort ensured effective coverage of difficult terrain and forested pockets where such illegal plantations are often concealed.
Senior officials said the ganja cultivation was systematically organized, with multiple plots strategically spread out to evade detection. However, timely intelligence inputs enabled the security forces to act decisively and dismantle the operation before the narcotics could be harvested and trafficked.
Police sources confirmed that investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those involved in cultivating and protecting the illegal plantations. Efforts are also being made to trace possible links to larger drug trafficking networks operating within and outside the state.
The successful operation is being seen as a major blow to illegal drug cultivation in the Sonamura region. Authorities reiterated their commitment to intensifying surveillance and conducting similar raids to curb narcotics production, protect forest land from encroachment, and safeguard youth from the harmful effects of drugs.
Officials have appealed to local residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and share information to help eliminate drug-related activities from the region.
