A joint task force of the Central and State government agencies will be formed shortly to crack down on the smuggling of new generation narcotic drugs to Kerala.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Excise Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh of various law enforcing agencies of the Central and State governments here on Friday in view of the recent spurt in the movement of narcotic drugs to the State. Two instances were reported in the recent past in which attempts were made to smuggle in drugs worth around ₹30 crore to Kerala from the international market.
Mr. Singh said that agencies expressed the doubt that Kerala might also be a transit point in drug smuggling since all the drugs smuggled to the State need not be for consumption here but might be transported to places such as Goa. He cited the instance in which a consignment brought from Brazil through an airport in the State three months ago was originally meant for Goa. But, of course, drugs are a problem in Kerala and may find a marker here, Mr. Singh said.
Apart from Excise, officers from the Police, Railway Protection Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Intelligence Bureau, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Narcotics Control Bureau and Central Industrial Security Force attended the meeting held at the Ernakulam Guest House. It was also decided that the joint meeting of agencies will be convened every three months.
Mr. Singh said that he would be shortly writing to the heads of the agencies concerned for the allocation of personnel to the joint task force where after a common WhatsApp group would also be formed for the simultaneous sharing of information.
The meeting discussed about the kinds of drug smuggling operations in vogue, the people involved in dealing drugs, the potential customers in Kerala, and whether other than airports, rail, road and water routes were also being used for smuggling drugs. Two major things emerged out of the meeting in which in was decided to tighten enforcement to foil any smuggling attempts.
“All agencies asked for the simultaneous sharing of any information for better coordination. The Excise Department also agreed to organise a one-day workshop for all enforcement agencies to familiarise them with the latest drugs in the market since in powder form all drugs look alike,” Mr. Singh said.
The workshop to be held within a fortnight would rope in the service of doctors and chemical experts to demonstrate the latest narcotic drugs in the market.
