Kerala, where a pro-prohibition policy was introduced by the former UDF-Government may soon reach the situation which Punjab is currently facing with regard to drug trafficking and abuse, if urgent measures are not taken to control the menace, the State’s Excise Department has warned.
Kochi, Kerala's commercial capital, is already third in the list of Indian cities plagued by the drugs menace, according to sources.
"Kerala may find itself in the same position as that of Punjab in the next five years as far as drug abuse and trafficking are concerned, if stringent and effective measures are not taken to control the menace," said Kerala Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh. In this context, the State was about to launch an extensive awareness campaign against drug abuse, he said.
Many sociologists and Excise and police officials are of the view that the drug menace reached such a dangerous level in Kerala in a very short time, due perhaps to the liquor policy introduced by the then Government in August, 2014. All bars were closed down and there was an increase in the migration of job-seekers into Kerala from other States.
A few months ago, then Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala of Congress, which led the UDF, that had introduced the pro-prohibition liquor policy, had admitted in the Assembly that there had been a three-fold increase in the number of drug abuse cases in the State since the introduction of the then Government's booze policy.
As per the statistics available with the Excise Department, it had conducted 151,273 searches for substances like marijuana and hashish and 2,085 related cases were registered in the past one year. The department had seized 1,110 kilos of marijuana during this period. "But who knows the actual volume of marijuana being used in and trafficked into Kerala," said an Excise official.
The Kerala Police had registered 652 cases related to drugs and had confiscated 720 kilos of marijuana in the past one year, according to sources. "The most disturbing aspect of drug abuse in Kerala, is that students and the youth are the victims of this menace. We are getting many complaints every day about sale of drugs centred around campuses," said the official.
According to journalist-sociologist BS Panicker, drug abuse has been on the rise in the circles of the elite youth in Kochi.
"It had hit college campuses long back but it grew to terrible levels after the former UDF Government's policy of closing down bars in the State shutting off the avenue available for mild intoxication," he said.
Till recently, Kerala used to be known as one of the best sourcing regions for good-quality marijuana (the "stuff" sourced from the mountains of Idukki District, that was known even as a brand, Idukki Gold, in drug circles).
However the police and the Excise departments through stringent and persistent action,were able to bring down the cultivation of the plant in the State.
"Most of the marijuana now being sold and used in Kerala is coming from States like Odisha and the migrants from such States in search of job are acting as couriers.
Also, there are clear indications that rackets are working in this area.
There are reports of Maoists in such States using the "stuff" for raising funds for their operations," said a top police official.
Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh said he was in the process of formulating strategies to bring down trafficking of drugs by road.
"There is a plan to install scanners at all the five main entry points in Kerala. Such scanners may cost anything between Rs5 crore and Rs15 crore a piece," he said on Sunday, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.