THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the drug mafia ruling the roost in the state, more than 69 posts of excise range inspectors in the department remain vacant. Accusations are also big about the government not showing any intent to reform the excise department albeit the flurry of cases of drug usage among minors shocking the state. It was days before that a 14-year-old girl fainted to death at her home in the capital. The girl is believed to be a victim of drug use. The police even took statements from teachers of the victim's school.

The border checkposts and the enforcement squad remains void with no big appointment of inspectors. Such that the work is turning cumbersome for the SI-ranked officers in the department. The charge sheet of many cases of drug use still lags behind for the same reason.

According to insiders within the department, if the range inspectors and SI-ranked officials combine work together, the number of drug cases will fall. The norms say officers who find major narcotic cases should not proceed with the case. The SI unearthed narcotic case will be passed on to the assistant commissioner. With the absence of range inspectors, the assistant commissioners are mired in arduous work to look after the plethora of cases reaching the department.