40% of country's seized hashish oil was from AP

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a major hub for hashish oil smuggling, with enforcement officials seizing over 230 kg of the substance in the past three years (2022-2024). According to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the state accounted for around 40% of the total hashish oil seized in the country during this period. Over 580 kg of hashish oil was seized in the country between 2022 and 2024.

The hashish oil, a concentrated form of cannabis, is said to be more than four times more potent than traditional dry cannabis. Its ease of concealment and transportation has made it a preferred choice among smugglers. The Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) has become a hotspot for hashish oil production and transportation, with some gangs trained in making the substance.

The demand for hashish oil is on the rise, with smugglers selling it in small quantities, often disguised in water bottles. A senior police officer revealed that one kilogram of hash oil can fetch around 15 lakh in big cities, compared to 80,000 to 1 lakh per kg for dry cannabis. The officer also highlighted the potency of hash oil, stating that 10 ml of the substance can be used for smoking more than 50 times and intoxicates more than dry weed. In big cities, smugglers sell a 10 ml vial of hash oil for 7,000. The significant seizures in AP point to aggressive enforcement by the police and other agencies. However, it also underscores the growing demand for hashish oil and its proliferation in the market.

The Sheelavathi variety of ganja grown in the AOB region has a huge market, and the hash oil derived from it is finding its way into major cities across the country.