A joint task force of Central and State government agencies will be formedto crack down on the smuggling of new-generation narcotic drugs to Kerala.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Excise Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh of various law-enforcing agencies of the Central and State governments here on Friday in view of the recent spurt in the movement of narcotic drugs to the State.
Two instances were reported in the recent past in which attempts were made to smuggle in drugs worth around ₹30 crore to Kerala from the international market.
Mr. Singh said the agencies expressed the doubt that Kerala might be a transit point in drug smuggling since all the drugs smuggled to the State need not be for consumption here but might be transported to places such as Goa. He cited the instance in which a consignment brought from Brazil through an airport in the State three months ago was originally meant for Goa. But, of course, drugs are a problem in Kerala and may find a market here, Mr. Singh said.
Apart from Excise personnel, officers from the Police, Railway Protection Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Intelligence Bureau, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Narcotics Control Bureau and Central Industrial Security Force attended the meeting held at Ernakulam Guest House. It was also decided that joint meeting of agencies will be convened every three months.
Mr. Singh said he would write to the heads of the agencies concerned for the allocation of personnel to the joint task force where after a common WhatsApp group would be formed for simultaneous sharing of information.
The meeting discussed the kinds of drug smuggling operations in vogue, the people involved in dealing drugs, the potential customers in Kerala, and whether other than airports, rail, road and water routes were also used for smuggling drugs.
