PANAJI
Even though small cannabis plants have been found growing in public areas across Panaji, Goa Police have said these are isolated incidents and not part of organised cultivation.
Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police (Anti-Narcotic Cell) Sunita Sawant said that while police are keeping a close watch on cannabis plants found in public areas, the cases reported so far do not point to large-scale farming.
“Our Panaji city is becoming a Smart City. We see that a lot of migrant labourers are working, and some of them chew paan and other such products. We have found cannabis plants at isolated places, but it would have been a concern if these were grown in large quantity. These are in just one-one at different places,” she said, as the capital city recorded its fourth cannabis plant discovery since January.
On Tuesday, a small cannabis plant was found near the old Excise Department. The first plant was discovered on January 4 in a parking lot outside Caculo Mall. The half-grown plant was removed by ANC officials and an FIR was filed against unknown persons under the NDPS Act for illegal cultivation.
Two days later, another plant was found among decorative shrubs on the renovated footpaths at St Inez. The third case was reported in Tonca, where a cannabis plant was found in a plastic paint bucket placed along with other household plants. At the time, police sources said the plant looked like it had been moved from another place, as its wilted leaves suggested it had been transplanted.
Although Goa Police have sent all the plants for forensic testing, they have not released any updates on the investigations. Police had earlier said they were checking whether these incidents were connected or just separate cases.
