SHILLONG: Meghalaya police have made a significant stride in combating the menace of narcotics, drugs, and psychotropic substances, with seizures worth an astonishing Rs 223 crore between 2019 and September 6, 2023.
This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong during a response to a zero-hour notice brought forth by Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem during the second day of the ongoing Assembly session, on Tuesday.
He further revealed that during this period, law enforcement authorities seized an array of illegal substances, including 32,555 grams of heroin, 8,479 kilograms of cannabis, 2,796 grams of opium, 81 kilograms of crystal meth, 57,802 bottles of codeine cough syrup, and 15,396 other psychotropic substances.
Tynsong, while praising this commendable achievement, also added that between 2019 and September 6, 2023, the Meghalaya police registered a total of 515 cases, leading to the apprehension of 826 males and 109 females involved in drug-related activities.
Highlighting the urgency with which the state authorities are addressing the issue of drug-related crimes, the Deputy Chief Minister also said that the government took a proactive step in this direction by establishing the Advisory Board on June 30, 2023.
This move aligns with Section 9 of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS), 1988, which empowers the board to handle the detention of habitual drug traffickers under the relevant provisions of the Act, he said.
Revealing further details, Tynsong disclosed that the police department has submitted a proposal to take legal action against nine repeat offenders, as per the PITNDPS Act, 1988.
In addition to these seizures, the police also confiscated 287 vehicles, 881 mobile phones, and 6 firearms. This demonstrates the government’s unwavering commitment to cracking down on drug-related crimes and ensuring that habitual offenders face the full force of the law, he added.
