By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 8: Now, zeroing in on the retail side of drug trade in the state, a sweeping crackdown on drug hotspots across Meghalaya has been ordered, with the police directed to launch surprise raids, intensify checks, and move aggressively against the retail and supply networks fuelling addiction in the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the police have received clear instructions to act on intelligence inputs and focus on areas identified as drug-sale zones. Detailed discussions were held with the Director General of Police (DGP) and senior officials, after which “very strict directions and instructions” were issued to ensure that regular surprise inspections and enforcement drives are carried out in a “very strict and aggressive manner.”
He said the operation will begin in key areas where a strong police response is urgently required, acknowledging that while the entire state cannot be covered at once. Enforcement will progressively extend to all vulnerable zones, he added.
The chief minister underlined that although police have successfully acted on the supply side,
the focus must now shift to the retail level — where small-scale sales directly impact youth.
The government, he added, wants the police to “go down even to that level” to ensure that individuals involved in the street-level trade are dealt with firmly. CCTV coverage will be increased, manpower strengthened, and community cooperation sought to make the crackdown effective. “The message is clear — we are very firm in ensuring that the action against drugs is a very firm one,” Sangma said. “The government is very serious about this, and people will see aggressive action in the coming days — whether from the police, health, social or community fronts — working together to control and act against the drug menace.”
Following the enforcement directives, the Chief Minister also announced the rollout of a state-wide plan to establish detox and de-addiction centres in every district headquarters. He said this decision followed a review meeting under the Dream Mission involving officials, departments, community stakeholders, and faith-based organisations, which he described as “very positive.”
The Health and Social Welfare department has been instructed to set up minimum infrastructure at all and de-addiction facilities. Sangma said such centres will be housed in government hospitals district headquarters, many of which still lack detox wherever possible, or alternatively in private hospitals, faith-based organisations, or NGOs willing to collaborate with the state.
He stressed that each district must have at least one fully functional detox and de-addiction centre with trained manpower in place. The training of doctors and nurses, he added, has also been decided. The chief minister expressed confidence that within three to four months, all district headquarters will have operational centres.
Suggestions, he said, were also received for creating standard operating procedures for the management of these centres and ensuring active community involvement in rehabilitation.
Terming the situation alarming, Sangma said it would be wrong to take a complacent view “even if there is just one user.” He said every possible support for rehabilitation and detoxification would be extended, and every measure taken to cut off supply. “We will not stop till even the last user is rehabilitated and we are completely drug free in our state,” he said.
