NARCOTICS: AP at 18th place in NDPS; UP, Punjab, TN at top three place
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh is at the 18th place among states in the registering of cases relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS). At top slots are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu states, having the first, second and third highest number of cases respectively.
According to the NCRB data, UP reported 10,852 NDPS cases in 2020, followed by Punjab with 6,909 cases and Tamil Nadu with 5,403 cases. Kerala reported 4,968 cases and took the fourth place while Maharashtra filed 4,714 cases and came in the fifth place.
The AP police said Maharashtra stood in the first place and Punjab in the second place in NDPS cases for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. AP was at 16th place in NDPS cases in 2017 and at the 17 place in 2018 and 2019 and at the 18 place in 2020.
The police are taking stern action by arresting the accused and registering NDPS cases. “We increased surveillance and raids to contain drugs, and this is giving good results. As many as 1,456 NDPS cases were registered in AP 4,059 persons arrested in the state in 2021. Last year, 866 NDPS cases had been registered and 2,900 persons arrested in 2020 while 717 cases were registered and 2,565 persons arrested in 2019. Some 534 cases were registered and 2,174 persons arrested in 2018. In 2017, 682 NDPS cases were registered and 2,406 accused arrested.
AP police registered 724 NDPS cases in 2016 by arresting 2,290 accused, 539 cases registered by arresting 1,410 accused in 2015, 427 cases registered by arresting 1,094 accused in 2014, 336 cases registered by arresting 857 accused in 2013, 278 cases registered in 2012 by arresting 870 accused and 267 NDPS cases registered in 2011 by arresting 802 accused.
As for Ganja cases, the AP police said a total of 1,711 cases were registered in 2021, 1,521 cases in 2020, 902 cases in 2019, 826 cases in 2018, 1,170 cases in 2017, 899 cases in 2016 and 683 cases in 2015.
AP-DGP Gautam Sawang said Ganja cultivation was going on for decades along the Andhra and Odisha border areas. The AP police initiated stern steps to curb illegal Ganja cultivation and transportation. AP police are taking the cooperation of the NIA in its efforts to eradicate the drug menace.
