With not many days left for the opening of schools in the state, the lack of effective measures to deal with the activities of the drug mafia around the campuses is a matter of concern not only to the parents but also to the entire society. It is not that the police and the Excise Department are unaware of the planned moves of the mafia, which lures the students who come to study, regardless of male and female, into the net of intoxication. The sale of intoxicating products is one of the main sources of income for gangs operating in major cities of Kerala. Therefore, by cracking down on the drug mafia, the root of the gangs can also be uprooted. However, it is doubtful whether the police and excise departments are ready for it.

We had previously reported that gangs who sell intoxicants through online orders due to the difficulty of direct delivery are also active in the state. The actions of the drug mafia are more terrifying than what the society thinks. The modus operandi of these people is to get children addicted to drugs at the most influenceable age to lead them into their evil web, and then make them links in the drug trade. They use many tricks to bring brain-numbing drugs to children in such a way that they cannot be recognized immediately. A survey by the Excise Department itself indicates that 70 percent of those between the ages of 10 and 15 start using drugs!

Eighty percent of teenagers start using drugs with their friends. Excise found drug dealing in 1140 schools. According to the report, 31.8 percent of college students become addicted to drugs. The recent incident of a girl taking her own life in the police quarters of the capital city had shocked the conscience of the community. Drug use had a major role in this. This is not a problem that can be solved only by strengthening police surveillance within two kilometres of the school. These people can be caught red-handed only if shadow policing is strengthened. Coordination between excise and police departments is also essential.

Teachers and parents have a major role to play in monitoring children who become addicted to drugs. Parents should take the initiative to talk to their children and explore problems. Some parents think that their responsibility ends when they buy and give their children what they need. That is not the right view. The greatest duty of parents is to provide mental strength. Even children who study well fall under the pressure of the drug mafia. Student organizations and youth organizations need to introspect in this regard. The question of whether they can come forward with society to suppress the drug mafia is relevant. In the past three days, 736 people were arrested for the possession and transfer of intoxicating drugs in the hunt conducted by the police in the state. This is a serious situation. The only option is to suppress the drug mafia without any mercy.