Police tighten grip on drugs, banned tobacco products in West Zone districts

The weekend special drive by the police against narcotic drugs and prohibited tobacco products in the eight West Zone districts from July 3 to July 5 has disrupted their inflow and circulation.

Seized drugs include 86 kg of ganja worth ₹43 lakh, 80 grams of cocaine valued at ₹40 lakh and two grams of methamphetamine worth ₹6,000. Banned tobacco products seized accounted for 3.15 tonnes.

“The drive reflects the Chief Minister’s enhanced focus on the crackdown against drugs and banned tobacco products. The large quantities of contraband seized during the special drive have made a formidable impact. The police could also crackdown on different varieties of drugs,” said R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Inspector General of Police (West Zone), to The Hindu.

The police have heightened vigil and vehicle checks at 37 inter-State borders in the west zone. Small roads, which smugglers take to bypass main checkposts, are also under police surveillance, she said.

In Krishnagiri district, the police seized 1 tonne of banned tobacco products from a Tiruchi-bound goods carrier, which were smuggled from Karnataka concealed under bags of onions, on July 4.

“There are nine inter-State checkposts -- seven along Karnataka borders and two along Andhra Pradesh. Vehicles checks have been heightened at these checkposts,” said G.S. Anitha, Krishnagiri District Superintendent of Police (SP).

According to her, the police conducted surprise checks at places where migrant workers reside in large numbers.

Coimbatore District SP A. Pavan Kumar Reddy said surprise checks were conducted in Perur and Karumathampatti Sub-Divisions, covering quarters and residences of migrant workers and college students. As many as 35 shops, which were found selling banned tobacco products, were sealed, he said.

In Namakkal district, 1,155 kg of gutkha stored in a warehouse was seized on the night of July 4. Another 700 kg was seized from Pallipalayam in June.

“More focus is given to places such as Tiruchengode and Pallipalayam, where the population of migrant workers is high. As many as 47 shops found selling gutkha were sealed in co-ordination with the FSSAI for this year. Efforts are under way to seal more shops following seizures during the special drive,” said Namakkal District SP Yadav Girish Ashok.

Tiruppur District SP Shristi Singh said 56 persons were arrested in 53 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the past two weeks. As many as 94 persons were arrested under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for possession and sale of tobacco products during the period, she said.