Shivamogga police plan crackdown with rehab focus

Shivamogga: Superintendent of police B Nikhil on Saturday said Shivamogga police have successfully implemented several initiatives to curb the trafficking, sale and consumption of cannabis (ganja) and other narcotics.

A total of 59kg of ganja was seized over the past six months.On the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the SP told reporters that the seized ganja, valued at Rs 25 lakh, was destroyed.He said inter-state traffickers were supplying narcotics to Shivamogga through intermediaries from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Acting on local intelligence, police tracked eight individuals linked to the network and arrested them.

Further operations are underway, and more details will be shared soon, he added.Expressing concern over the increasing involvement of youth aged 18 to 30 in drug abuse and trafficking, the SP said both preventive and corrective measures are being implemented. In coordination with the management of 21 selected schools and colleges, police tested 484 students, of whom three were found positive for cannabis use. The students were counselled, informed about legal consequences and health risks, and their parents were notified.

Similar surprise checks and enforcement drives will be extended to more schools, colleges and hostels in the coming days.He said the department’s approach is not limited to punitive action against addicts and peddlers but also emphasises rehabilitation. Under the ‘Nasha-Mukt Shivamogga’ initiative, awareness programmes will be conducted across all taluks to promote healthy lifestyles.To encourage public participation, police have launched a WhatsApp service, ‘Public Eye’, enabling citizens to share information on drug use, sale or transportation by contacting helpline number 8277982900.

The SP assured strict confidentiality for informants.Sharing six-month statistics, he said 31 ganja seizure cases were registered, and 64 accused were booked. A total of 1,426 people were tested for cannabis consumption, of whom 385 tested positive, leading to 349 cases. Police also conducted 396 awareness programmes in schools, educating 26,000 students, and arrested 102 absconders with pending NDPS warrants. Most cases were concentrated in identified hotspots in Bhadravathi and Shivamogga.