AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government on Wednesday said that drugs are worth $Rs 3,727 crore have been seized across the state in the last two years under the zero-tolerance policy against drugs, with police also moving against illegal properties and constructions linked to drug peddlers.
Gujarat Home Minister Kaushik Vikaria told the assembly that 1,647 cases had been registered in the past two years, and about 41,000 kg of drugs with an estimated street value of about $100 million had been seized. $Rs 3,727 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi said the state is pursuing the goal of making Gujarat drug-free through strict enforcement and continuous investigations. He said Gujarat Police conducted comprehensive investigations to trace the drug networks to their roots and take action against all those involved.
Sanghvi said properties are worthy $An amount of Rs 32.20 crore belonging to drug dealers in Kutch district was seized. He said that illegal structures linked to drug trade, including those erected on Gochar lands and government lands in Jamnagar, have been demolished. He said the police, in coordination with other state forces, dismantled inter-state drug networks, including those run by the “Pandey brothers”. He said that drug manufacturing units were also discovered and seized within Gujarat and in other states.
Sanghvi said the government has adopted a dual approach by combining legal action and rehabilitation. He said that drug-addicted youth are receiving counseling with their families in cities like Surat and Ahmedabad under the supervision of police commissioners, instead of being sent to prison. He said that the state budget this year stipulated the opening of addiction treatment centers in every region to ensure local support.
Vicaria said that Jamnagar and Kutch districts witnessed 135 cases, in which 306 accused were arrested and more than 135 cases were found in possession of drugs worth more than 135 cases. $Rs 244.59 crore was seized. He added that the Anti-Terrorism Squad and other agencies remained alert to prevent drug smuggling through sea routes. He said an anti-narcotics task force was working in six districts of the state to break organized drug networks. Vicaria said the drug-related crime rate in Gujarat was 0.8%, which he said was the lowest in the country.
