SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government is preparing to detain 10 more suspected drug traffickers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act as it intensifies its crackdown on the illegal drug trade across the state.
UDP leader and Adviser to the Social Welfare Department Paul Lyngdoh made the announcement on Friday while speaking on the sidelines of the anti-drug awareness programme, “Pulse of the Hills, Every Beat Against Drugs,” held in Shillong.
Lyngdoh said the government’s enforcement efforts have now expanded into areas where anti-drug raids were previously never conducted, describing it as a significant achievement in the state’s fight against narcotics.
“The fact that raids have now started in areas where they were never conducted in the past is another major achievement of the state government. The department is preparing a list of 10 fresh detainees who will be detained under the PIT NDPS Act to deter illegal and immoral drug trafficking,” he said.
He added that the detention process is expected to be completed within the next two months. He also informed that detention orders in several earlier cases have already been extended by another year.
Highlighting measures to strengthen anti-drug enforcement, Lyngdoh said the government has operationalised a K-9 Unit with a dedicated Dog Squad to assist security agencies in detecting narcotics.
He further revealed that an administrative building at Rattacherra is being established to strengthen surveillance at one of Meghalaya’s key entry points from Assam and Manipur.
According to Lyngdoh, the state government is also pursuing the procurement of specialised scanning vehicles capable of detecting illicit narcotics, which will further enhance border enforcement.
He noted that Meghalaya remains vulnerable to drug trafficking because of its proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world’s major narcotics-producing regions. Alongside stricter law enforcement, he said the government is continuing awareness campaigns under the DREAM Mission to prevent substance abuse among the youth and build a drug-free Meghalaya.