Drug use and related crimes are increasing day by day in Kerala. New methods are being adopted for the drug trade. DANSAF team and Kadakkavoor police arrested three youths who were running a drug trade with aggressive dogs to guard them. They used to sell drugs targeting students and foreigners. They kept the intoxicants in small packages for sale. Police found MDMA, cannabis and drug paraphernalia from them. The pet dogs jumped on the police team who reached the spot based on secret information. The police arrested the youths after a physical confrontation, after locking the dogs inside a room.

This cannot be seen as an isolated incident. It has become an undeniable fact that drug gangs like this are operating clandestinely in many parts of Kerala. It is clear that the accused were using drugs in many recent cases of violence and harassment. The decision to close liquor shops en masse is what initially caused the sales of cannabis and MDMA to blossom. It grew and flourished later during the lockdown due to COVID. Those who become addicted to drugs then turn to drug trade for money. Violence and rampage by drug gangs have taken place more than once at Manaveeyam Veedhi in Thiruvananthapuram. The violence committed by such people due to unreasonable chemical intoxication has become a serious social threat. Drug trafficking and use is mainly concentrated in some colonies, vacant houses and forested abandoned homesteads. Even school children, male and female, have become links in their web. It is also their practice to attack those who question their drug use.

Official sources indicate that Kochi city is where drugs are most widely trafficked and used. There is not a single police station in Kochi city where more than one drug case has not been registered. In 2022 alone, there will be a 300-fold increase in drug-related cases compared to other years. The number of cases decreased during the Covid period, but there has been a surge after that. The majority of users of cannabis, MDMA, etc. are youngsters. After Kochi, districts like Thrissur, Idukki and Kannur have also seen a huge increase in drug cases.

It cannot be said that police, excise etc. are not taking strong measures to prevent drug trafficking and use. However, there is a lack of scientific systems needed to prove drug cases. In order to solve it, it is necessary for the government to take action regardless of the financial aspect. Awareness against drug addiction is being done by many movements, groups etc., and needs to be spread more. People's movements are necessary to make the country drug-free. This tragedy can be prevented if law enforcement and the community act as one.

As the New Year approaches, the police should be vigilant to prevent drug sales under the guise of celebrations. If that can be done, many incidents of violence can be avoided in advance.