The world's greatest danger is the spread of synthetic drugs. It is also the easiest way to destroy a country. After the Second World War, several countries largely recovered from the ravages of the war and became major economic powers. War and internal strife are largely temporary issues. However, if the majority of a nation's citizens become enslaved to synthetic drugs, then no one can save that country. The spread of synthetic drugs is a menace to be feared and condemned more than war or terrorism. The fact that the police seized drugs worth nearly two thousand crore rupees in the international market in Delhi underscores the sinister attempts by global drug cartels to destroy our country.

According to the Delhi Police, these drugs were smuggled to India to be sold during the festive season in the country. 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of cannabis were seized in Delhi. Four people have been arrested, the police said. Last month, Delhi Police had conducted raids on over 300 secret drug dens, uncovering crucial information. Building on those leads, further investigations led to the seizure of narcotics worth Rs 2000 crores. According to police, a kilogram of cocaine can cost between Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore in the international market. Investigations have revealed that the seized cocaine originated from South America and was smuggled through Malaysia, while the cannabis was sourced from Taiwan. To stay under the radar, smugglers turned to cryptocurrency for their transactions.

This is the largest drug bust in the country in recent times. Often, such substances are smuggled multiple times before being caught once. Considering this, it's alarming to think about how much narcotics international syndicates may have already smuggled into our country. Synthetic drugs can induce lifelong addiction with just one use. Kerala Kaumudi published a special report yesterday, titled 'Veenupokaruthu Raasalahariyil' (Don't fall prey to synthetic drugs), pointing to the ease of availability of such substances in Kerala. According to the report, the sale of these synthetic drugs is largely facilitated through social media platforms.

Most synthetic drugs available in Kerala are sticker-type, priced at ₹100, with effects lasting up to 10 hours. These chewing gum-like substances are easily disseminated among students. Investigations revealed that the seized substance, confiscated from an engineering student in Kochi, contains harmful chemicals that can numb the brain for over 48 hours. Excise and police departments should take action very seriously considering that Kerala is third in the country in consumption of synthetic drugs. The drug comes from countries like Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan by sea. The government should prioritize identifying and apprehending the domestic operators controlling these networks within our state, rather than just focusing on catching gold smugglers.