Sagar, a 21-year-old from G. Madugula in Andhra Pradesh, was arrested recently for carrying hash oil. He said he did not know about the smuggling but was caught by police. Sagar’s arrest shocked his family, who had high hopes for him. A few weeks earlier, 27-year-old Ramesh from nearby Chintapalli also got caught after helping smuggle ganja for money. Many tribal youths like Sagar and Ramesh are being drawn into ganja smuggling by outside mafia groups. These groups offer cash and luxury items, tempting young people facing poverty and debt. Police say the youth think they can escape arrest, but strong new technology and investigations catch them. The strict Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act can lead to up to 10 years or life imprisonment for drug offences. Bail is very hard and often takes six months or longer. Police official said investigations are complex and need extensions beyond 180 days. The Visakhapatnam Central Jail holds 1,717 inmates, with 1,026 facing NDPS charges, including many from tribal areas. Psychologist Madhavi says many young inmates feel anxious and regretful, while some deny their mistakes. She stresses parents should monitor children carefully to prevent criminal involvement. Tribal leaders blame poverty, lack of jobs, and government neglect. They call for proper job reservation as per government orders and better support for farmers switching from ganja to other crops. Police confirm no ganja farms remain in ASR district; seized drugs come from Odisha. Authorities run programs like ‘Saral’, ‘Prerana’, and ‘Nirman’ to give tribal youth career guidance and expose them to new opportunities. Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar shared that job fairs and skill training helped many young people get employment. Home Minister V. Anitha, after visiting the Visakhapatnam jail, said tribal youth were wrongly used as “scapegoats” and promised to discuss the issue further. The problem reflects deep social and economic challenges faced by tribal communities and risks ruining the futures of many promising youth.