THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan replied to the adjournment motion moved by P C Vishnunath of the congress regarding the widespread use and sale of drugs in Kerala. The chief minister replied to the motion of Vishnunath pointing that over 16,228 drug cases were registered in 2022 alone.

Consumption of drugs and trade are posing a threat to the society. The chief minister while replying to the notice said effective action will be taken against it. The government is taking the issue very seriously. Habitual offenders of drug cases will be kept in preventive detention. The police and excise will take action together. Officers will be trained for this. A history sheet of those involved in the case will be prepared and kept. The chief minister informed that such people will be constantly monitored.

The number of arrests for drug trafficking and selling drugs has increased tremendously recently and this is a result of concerted efforts taken by government agencies. The consumption of synthetic drugs is currently more of a threat than the use of ganja. In addition to enforcement, Pinarayi Vijayan also pointed that government systems and the public need to work in a coordinated manner to prevent this menace.

The chief minister also tabled in the assembly the figures in connection with the consumption and trade of 2020, 2021 and 2022. 4,650 cases were registered in 2020 and 5,334 in 2021. A total of 16,128 cases have been registered till August 29 this year. 5,674 people were arrested in 2020 and the number rose to 6704 in 2021. 17,834 people have been arrested in drug cases in 2021. 1340 kilograms of ganja brought for trade, 6.7 kgms of MDMA and 23.4 kgms of hashish oil were seized this year.