Hi-tech technology helps bust cannabis chenas

Wildlife Conservation Department officers detected 35 cannabis chenas in a short period after receiving training in sophisticated technology to detect illegal activities within deep jungles.

A Wildlife Conservation Department Officer said these detections would have not been possible if traditional methods were used. The spokesman said the Department introduced a Protected Area Habitat Health Management System, which involves organized periodical patrolling system, carefully crafted with new technologies such as Remote Sensing, Geo-Informatics (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to detect the illegal activities.

The spokesman said that the Department trained its first batch of Specially Trained Wildlife Patrolling Group with a real life practical component including three days patrol operation. He added that the Department is planning to conduct more such training in the future.

He said that the Wildlife Conservation Department has planned to Re-introduce Regional Flying Squads with new technology and equipment to strengthen law enforcement activities in the near future.

The first batch of the trainees were equipped with knowledge in Satellite Based Remote Sensing, Geo-informatics for Law Enforcement, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Navigation, and Use of VHF radio systems in law enforcement.