Drug menace: 4169 cases, 4423 arrests in one month; Kerala witnessing influx of drugs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state is witnessing an influx of drugs even as various government departments have woken up by announcing an action plan against drugs and the drug mafia. 4169 drug cases were reported in the state within a month. 4423 accused were arrested. The terrible reality of the drug menace becomes clear upon learning that not even one percent of drugs reaching the state is getting caught.

1846.065 grams of MDMA, 177 kg of cannabis, 46 grams of brown sugar and 941 grams of hashish oil were seized between October 6 and November 20. There were only 4650 cases in 2020 and 5334 in 2021. Around 25,000 cases have been registered so far this year. New-gen groups, both male and female, indulge in drug use by holding drug parties in college hostels and sharing pictures and videos of drug use on social media.

According to the official statistics of the police, most of the drug cases are registered in Kochi, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kannur and Alappuzha. The highest amount of MDMA was seized from Thiruvananthapuram Rural (902.972 grams). Drugs worth crores arrive in Kerala on a daily basis. It doesn't matter if it's a city or a village, drugs are available everywhere. LSD stamps, pethidine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, narcotic pills, and other drugs are all readily available. Chemical intoxicants are available in stamp and sticker form, in small granules, pill, chocolate and chewing gum forms. There are also stickers that can be placed under the tongue. They are colourless and odourless and cannot be easily detected. The addictive drug can affect the brain for up to 12 hours after a single dose.

Between October 6 and November 20
District--------------Cases--------------------------Cannabis------ ---MDMA
Thiruvananthapuram City--115------119------5153.38-------19.27

Thiruvananthapuram Rural-----195------194-----1607.92--------902.97

Kollam City------------------272------227-----801.5-----------98.566

Kollam Rural----------------111------110------8680.23---------1.81

Pathanamthitta--------------------72-------44-------791.21----------15.41

Alappuzha--------------343-----360------6.15------------ -26.03

Kottayam-------------451-----467-------95684.76------17.55

Idukki------------------------146------155-------1369.46--------0.5

Ernakulam Rural--------175------193-------9.74------------0.47

Kochi City------------------485------518-------780.60-----------39.93

Thrissur--------------------------74-------70----------275---- --------0

Thrissur Rural----------------191------274----------21780.57----11.27

Palakkad---------------------113------123----------12247.2------19.52

Malappuram ------------------------------------------- 472 --------- 19469.85 ----------

Kozhikode------------------144-------168---------549.19-------125.08

Kozhikode Rural---------60----------75------------1131---------0.527

Wayanad--------------158-------182----------4271.43-----109.09

Kannur City------------------376-------374----------454.47-------3.95

Kannur Rural----------------36-----------45-----------980.51--------11.03

Kasaragod-----------------291----------313---------23739.4-----87.14

Total-------------4169---------4423--------177238.7----- 1846.07
(measurements in grams)

Govt's action plan
1. Habitual offenders will be detained in preventive detention for two years without trial
2. Databank of drug dealers, bail bonds for accused
3. Shops selling drugs near schools will be closed forever
4. Assets of the accused in drug cases will be confiscated
5. Anti-drug activities and awareness in schools and colleges