New Anti-Drug Campaign: Gujarat officials have seized narcotics. It valued at ₹9,600 crore and arrested 2,600 people over the last four years. The Statement by State Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, on Monday.
This announcement came at the launch of a fresh campaign against drugs, which will now also focus on villages and smaller towns.
New Anti-Drugs Campaign Initiative by Gujarat Officials:
The new initiative will see high-ranking police officials adopting different districts to implement awareness programs and review progress.
“We are launching an anti-drugs campaign to take this fight from the cities to the villages,” Sanghavi said.
Key Components of the Campaign:
- Awareness Programs: Organized at the district level in schools, colleges, religious places, etc., involving social media influencers social, political, and religious leaders.
- Rehabilitation Centers: A separate budget has been approved for more rehabilitation centers in coordination with the health department to provide timely treatment and counseling for addicts.
“We are waging a war against this menace,” Sanghavi added.
Recent Successes and Seizures:
- Over 87,000 kilograms of narcotics were seized by state law enforcement agencies.
- This year alone, 251 drug-related cases were registered, ₹410 crore worth of drugs were seized, and 353 people were arrested.
Addressing Criticism:
Sanghavi hit back at opposition parties criticizing the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party government over the seizure of large quantities of drugs. He stated:
“Gujarat is number one in catching drugs, not consuming it. It has now become a fashion to malign Gujarat for political mileage. We are being defamed because we catch drugs without doing politics. Instead of appreciating us, we are labeled as ‘Udta Gujarat.’ Some states do not act against the drug menace.”
Rewards and Future Focus on New Anti-Drug Campaign:
- Narco Reward Policy: Gujarat’s director general of police, Vikas Sahay, mentioned that 105 personnel from the force have received ₹16 lakh in cash rewards—an average of ₹1.5 lakh per person.
- Focus on Internal Drug Traffickers: While the main focus in recent years was on intercepting drugs smuggled through Gujarat’s coastline, authorities are now shifting attention to apprehending drug traffickers within the state.
“These drug dealers earned crores of rupees, had built palaces, set up huge offices, and drove luxury cars from their illegal earnings,” Sanghavi said, citing recent arrests made by the state police in a joint operation with the Odisha police.
“We have sealed their properties and assets in cooperation with Odisha police. In the coming days, they will be auctioned, and the proceeds will benefit the people of the state and country.”
The minister emphasized that authorities will focus on seizing the properties and assets of those caught in drug trafficking cases.
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