SHILLONG, JUL 31: The state government is preparing to detain 10 more persons under the PIT NDPS Act as part of its intensified crackdown on drug trafficking, UDP leader and Adviser to the Social Welfare Department Paul Lyngdoh said on Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the anti-drugs awareness programme “Pulse of the Hills, Every Beat Against Drugs” in Shillong, Lyngdoh said enforcement has been expanded to areas that were previously not covered.
“The fact that raids have now started in areas where they were never conducted in the past is also another major achievement of the state government. As part of that, the department is preparing a list of 10 fresh detainees who will be detained under PIT NDPS so that it deters this crime of illegal and immoral trafficking,” he said.
He added that the process should be completed in about two months. Lyngdoh also informed that detention in some old cases has already been extended by one more year.
On new infrastructure to check narcotics inflow, Lyngdoh said the government has operationalized a K-9 Unit with a dedicated Dog Squad.
“In the last interaction with the media, I had informed that we are also contemplating a K9 Unit. Now that is functioning. We have a dedicated Dog Squad,” he said.
The department is also setting up an administrative building at Rattacherra, which he described as the key entry point from Assam and Manipur into Meghalaya.
“We are also in the process of having an Administrative Building in Rattacherra region which is the gateway of Assam and Manipur entering Meghalaya. We are also pursuing with the ministry the procurement of vehicles that can actually scan and detect illicit narcotics,” Lyngdoh said.
He noted that Meghalaya faces heightened pressure due to its proximity to the Golden Triangle, and said the government was combining stricter policing with awareness drives under the DREAM Mission to steer youth away from drugs.
By Our Reporter
