Rs 50,000 cr Worth of drugs seized by Govt in recent months
| Date :16-Dec-2023 |
Staff Reporter
Expressing deep concern over the rise in drug addicts, amount of seized drugs in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister informed State Assembly on Friday that Government would take aggressive measures to curb the drug menace. He made the House aware of establishment of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in the State and drugs of around Rs 50,000 crore seized in recent past. He did not specify the exact period during which the drugs were seized. Fadnavis, who is Home Minister too, said, “The quantity of seized drugs was very small earlier. But now, more quantity of drugs is being seized from various places.” Opposition MLA of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Rohit Pawar raised a question about the arrest of Lalit Patil and the Government’s role in the case. He also pointed out that Gujarat Government seized drugs worth Rs one lakh crore while Maharashtra Government could seize drugs worth Rs 300 crore only.
Replying to Pawar, Fadnavis said that the police had seized drugs worth Rs 50,000 crore in the recent past. The police discreetly tracked 2,200 small shops (selling drugs) in Mumbai and removed them to curb the menace of drugs. “Taking serious cognisance, Amit Shah, Union Home Minister recently convened a meeting of Director Generals and Home Ministers of all States and he told us that the fight against drugs will be a joint effort and not state-specific. A coordination committee under district collectors has been formed,” explained Fadnavis. Government is keeping a watch on chemicals being imported which could be used to make drugs. We have also found that closed factory sites are being used for drug production,” Fadnavis added.
Following Rs 300-crore drug bust by the Mumbai police, the opposition and ruling dispensation have targeted each other over key accused Lalit Patil. Fadnavis said that he did not want to get into politics but would like to take action against the menace of drugs. “Pimpri-Chinchwad police had sought permission from the then MVA Government to approach the court to seek Lalit Patil’s custody. But the Government did not give the permission. Patil was a leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray),” Fadnavis made it clear. Four policemen were dismissed who were found connected to Patil. In future also, Government would take steps where strict action would be taken against police if they found guilty.
Nashik MLA Devyani Farande suggested to have Drug De-addiction Centres which was accepted by Fadnavis. He promised that such De-addiction centres would be opened in State. Mumbai, it was said that drugs were sold at stalls outside schools and colleges. The Mumbai police have silently taken action on over 2,200 stalls. The accountability will be fixed on courier service agencies as drugs is being supplied on-line. The gadgets are also being introduced those would identify the drugs hidden in boxes, packets etc, said Fadnavis.