Mangaluru : The district administration on Monday destroyed about 10 kg of narcotic substances seized in different cases which were worth around Rs. 16 lakh in the grey market.

The items included 6.84 kg ganja, 960 g heroine, 950 g brown sugar and 1.13 g charas. The action was in pursuance to direction from different courts.

Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Mangaluru, L.A. Manjunath said the administration intended to send out a message to the society, particularly the youth, that civil society could not tolerate the use of narcotic substances. One should desist from using them in one’s own interest as well as society’s interest, he said.

The department had been taking steps to curb the sale and use of narcotic substances. The destroyed items were seized in 17 cases, Mr. Manjunath added.

The destruction took place under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Principal District and Sessions Judge M.G. Uma, Joint Commissioner of Excise, Mangaluru, Rajendra Prasad, DC (Excise), Udupi, Murali and other officials.