SHILLONG/TURA, Aug 3: With Meghalaya Police intensifying the war against drugs with scores of crackdowns, Home Minister Lakhmen Rymbui on Wednesday said numerous raids have yielded substantial quantities of drugs across the state and the police are hopeful of zeroing in on the kingpins soon.
He lauded the village dorbars and social organisations for providing vital information to the police in their mission to eradicate the drug menace. He also appreciated the cooperation from the central government agencies in the anti-drug drive.
“This is a national menace and so we have to work together. I feel that with the constant effort of the police and the other agencies, we will be able to check this menace,” Rymbui said.
Director-General of Police L.R. Bishnoi who had declared the war against drugs said earlier that 1.5 kg of heroin has been recovered in the state since he became the state police chief. “A mere 450 milligrams of the drug are enough to make someone an addict, he said.
Citing a 2019 survey, the DGP said Meghalaya has 2.5 lakh drug-users. “The number today has gone beyond 3-lakh, which means the addicts make up nearly 10% of the state’s population,” he said.
“More than 7.5-crore youths in India are taking drugs,” he added.
More crackdowns
In another case of crackdown on drugs, police in West Garo Hills on Wednesday seized a significant volume of contraband capsules after arresting a person.
West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police VS Rathore said that a team of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), acting on a tip-off, conducted an operation during which 576 Tramadol Hydrochloride capsules were seized from one Chanchu M Marak (32) from Balading locality in Tura.
A mobile phone with a SIM card was also recovered from his possession.
A case has been registered against Marak and further investigation is under way.
Another drug bust was reported in the state capital during which police contraband items worth Rs three crore were seized.
Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “The war against drugs is on! Massive blow to drug traffickers in Shillong. In a well coordinated ops EKH Police nabbed 06 accd, seized 564 gms heroin worth Rs 3 crore, recovered cash Rs 6.82 lakhs, and 6 mobile phones. Further investigation is on. Well done, Meghalaya Police”
