The district is all set to get the first Janamaithri Excise Office in the State under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government with its inauguration at Adimali on October 10. The second one is allotted at Nilambur. Under the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) rule, two Janamaithri Excise offices were set up at Attappadi in Palakkad district and Sulthan Batheri in Wayanad district.
Excise Assistant Commissioner Jacob John told The Hindu on Thursday that the new office will function at the building near the old grama panchayat building where the BSNL office functioned. The panchayat has agreed to hand over the building and the office will cater to the areas in Devikulam taluk where drug abuse and cases of illegal liquor were frequently reported.
Backward and remote areas where estate workers and tribal people live are said to be used by liquor and drug agents as their main centres of operation. Youth from educationally and financially backward areas fall easy prey to drug abuse and they are being used as agents for selling illegal liquor and contraband items.
The High Ranges have turned a major haven for stocking cannabis, mainly arriving from Tamil Nadu. The recent seizure of hashish oil worth nearly ₹20 crore in the international market points to the larger dimensions of drug trade.
Focus on campaigns
There were also Intelligence reports that school and college campuses were turning to be main places of ganja business.
The aim of the office is to organise campaigns at the grass-roots level against drugs and illegal liquor. Legal steps would also be taken against those behind it, said Mr. John, adding that the problems could be tackled only through public interaction.