Police on Wednesday night nabbed two persons with nearly a quintal of cannabis that they were allegedly smuggling to Assam from Cooch Behar.

Also, in two separate raids on Thursday, the police destroyed cannabis plants on around 68 bighas of land in two locations of the district.

Laltu Haldar, the additional superintendent of police of Cooch Behar, said on Wednesday, they got information that two persons were carrying cannabis harvested in the district to neighbouring Assam.

“They were intercepted at Shungshugir Bazaar on town outskirts. Both were on a two-wheeler. Our team from Kotwali police station found around 94kg of the narcotic on them,” Haldar said.

The arrested duo were identified as Sanjit Burman and Kamala Kanta Burman of Cooch Behar district. The seized narcotic was worth around Rs 12 lakh, police said.

Teams of Kotwali and Sitalkuchi police stations destroyed illegal cannabis farms. In Sitalkuchi, the team moved into the dry bed of Mansai river to hack and set ablaze cannabis crops over 50 bighas. The police team from Kotwali went to Chandamari area and destroyed cannabis plants across 18 bighas. Those carrying out the illegal farming fled.

During the past few years, cannabis farming has become a new trend in the district as it fetches a good price in the grey market. “There are reports that some farmers in some villages under Sahebganj, Mekhliganj, Kotwali and Sitalkuchi police stations are involved in this illegal practice,” said a cop.

Policemen and civic volunteers after destroying the cannabis plants set them on fire.