Inter-State carriers of banned pan masala products and ganja, targeting migrant workers and students, have suffered a huge setback, thanks to surprise checks by special squads comprising officials of Crime Detachment, Excise, Government Railway Police (GRP), and shadow police.
In the last two months, around 200 kg of banned pan masala products were seized from various locations in the city, and as many as 10 persons were arrested. A major quantity of the banned substance was seized from long-distance special trains.
GRP personnel said it was after a long time suspected carriers were netted. Earlier, pan masala consignments alone used to land in police net after being alerted by passengers, they added.
Checking was intensified by the Excise squad also following confirmed reports that drug peddlers were targeting students of various schools in the city. A good quantity of pan masala and ganja were seized from the premises of various educational institutions.
Excise Department officials said they were keeping an eye on drug peddlers who target students. “Since the commencement of the new academic year, we have been busy with various field-level activities to prevent drug peddlers from having their way,” they said.
Town Station Sub Inspector P.M. Vimod said his team, along with the Crime Detachment squad, had strengthened the drive against banned pan masala products under ‘Operation Idiminnal’ initiated by City Police Commissioner Uma Behra.
