The flow of drugs to the State through various channels continues, despite the Excise Department strengthening surveillance, Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan has said.
“Though we could seize a large quantity of drugs, many youths have already fallen prey to drug abuse. The mafia gets them addicted to drugs through free supply. We need to be vigilant against their tricks. A big network is active in the State to lure students to drugs,” the Minister said.
He was speaking after taking salute at the passing-out parade of 10th batch of civil excise officers at Kerala Police Academy, Ramavarmapuram, near here, on Thursday. “The force will be strengthened. The department has already been modernised,” he said.
He asked the force not to heed to vested interests. The Excise Department has a huge responsibility to act as a watchdog against drug abuse. More than 15,000 drug cases have been registered since the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has taken charge, the Minister said. There were 47,000 Abkari cases.
In all 1.75 lakh tobacco-related cases have been registered. Drugs worth ₹600 crore have been seized by the department. Kerala Police Academy Director B. Sandhya and Excise Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh participated.
