No End In Sight For Drug Cases, But Police Hopeful Of Ending Menace

HYDERABAD: Ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse (and illicit trafficking), the police painted a hopeful picture of cracking down on drug abuse and convicting offenders, citing breakthroughs in several important cases and an increased number of convictions last year, even as hundreds of cases have been quashed due to lack of evidence or are pending trial.

Last year, at least five were arrested for drug peddling and convicted, while more than 400 were detained under the PD Act, to curtail drug sales amid the pendency of cases.

Another aspect is the crack down on movie stars and celebrities.

A few months ago, the excise and prohibition department registered cases against peddlers for supplying drugs to international schools and Tollywood actors. The department officials questioned actors, actresses and directors over drug consumption, but the government gave them a clean chit.

However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is questioning Tollywood actors in connection with money laundering cases, where drugs are involved.

G. Chakravarthy, deputy commissioner of police, Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) said that their wing is dedicated to combating drug abuse and peddling in the state by coordinating with all police stations.  

“Hundreds of drug cases reported from different places are pending before the court of law and the H-New officials monitored legal trial by submitting proper evidence,” Chakravarthy said, citing the recent 15-month sentence for a convict in the north zone.

Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand, who attended an awareness programme at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University ahead of the Anti-Drug Abuse Day on Sunday, said that Telangana was one of few Indian states to have a dedicated narcotics bureau for enforcement.

“Telangana-Narcotics Bureau (T-Nab) is a separate entity to focus on narcotics enforcement. This bureau, formed a month ago, will enforce all anti-narcotics laws across the state. Around 11.5 crore people are affected in India due to drugs, everyone must be vigilant,” Anand said.

Box: Recent busts

Jan. 25: H-NEW arrests peddler for smuggling MDMA from Maharashtra to Hyderabad, seizing 15 grams

Feb. 15: Hyderabad police bust two inter-state drug trafficking gangs, arrest eight persons

May 19: Rachakonda police arrest a youngster from Mapusa for selling drugs to college students in Hyderabad

May 23: Cyberabad police bust a drug-peddling gang, arrest four persons, including a Nigerian

June 23: Vanasthalipuram police bust a drugs racket operating between Karnataka and Hyderabad, arrest one