The Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police detained 274 individuals last week for allegedly being involved in drug possession and consumption. The MBVV police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) registered 43 drug-related incidents last year, which resulted in the apprehension of 53 drug dealers and seizures totaling more than INR 5.41 crore.
On the orders of Commissioner of Police Madhukar Pandey, the operation started on January 29 and focused on small-time street drug consumers. After the recent unrest in the Nayanagar neighbourhood area of Mira Road on January 22, when the pran pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya took place, the police stepped up their efforts.
Residents have been complaining about the surge in roadside drug addicts in the area for quite some time. This issue faced by the residents was highlighted by MBVV's Additional Commissioner, Shrikant Pathak. He said they noticed that these drug consumers were turning into burglars and were responsible for theft and molestation cases in the area, which also contributed to an increase in the crime rate in that region.
Pathak continued by stating that the goal of the crackdown, which has resulted in 40 to 50 cases and arrests every day, is to get rid of this threat from the MBVV streets.
Although the authorities assert that they have been apprehending street vendors and dismantling mephedrone production facilities, this latest campaign represents the biggest effort in the area since it began in 2020.
The 274 accused are booked under two sections: Section 8 C - production, manufacturing, sell, possess, purchase, warehouse, transport, using, consuming, import or export inter-state, import into India, export from India, or tranship any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance; and Section 27 for consumption of drugs under the NDPS Act.
While acknowledging the police efforts, the residents underlined the need for more action against drug dealers and more education campaigns about the risks of drug misuse and consumption among young people.
During the raid, mephedrone (MD), cocaine, ganja (cannabis), and charas were seized in substantial amounts, stated Pathak. The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) was constantly chasing those involved in the trafficking of these drugs.
Aam Aadmi Party Leader Ravi Bhushan stated that the number of arrests in a single week demonstrates the severity of the issue. He also hopes the police will keep up their campaign of arrests and seize the local drug producers and peddlers.
An official from the police added that they have given the officials instructions to ascertain the number of foreign nationals who are both involved in the sale and use of drugs and are staying in the area illegally.
Share
Tweet
