Vigil stepped up in Kozhikode ahead of Onam to track drug peddlers

As the district gears up for Onam festivities, anti-narcotics squads under the Kozhikode City and Rural police have stepped up surveillance across the district to track suspected drug peddlers.

While the festive season often witnesses a spike in drug trafficking, especially around youth gatherings and public events, the squads are in action with the support of a group of plainclothesmen to ensure a robust crackdown.

The District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) is leading the special drive after identifying frequent offenders in the area and those earlier convicted in major drug trafficking cases. Police sources confirmed that they had a list of repeat offenders who continued to maintain contacts with inter-State gangs and were attempting to re-enter the trade.

“Plainclothesmen are on duty at all key public places, including bus stands, railway stations, beaches, shopping complexes, and major shopping destinations in the city and rural areas. Women police officers are also part of the heightened surveillance plan,” said an Inspector with the Anti-Narcotics Squad. He said the surveillance camera network connected to the city police control room would also facilitate real-time monitoring.

According to officials with DANSAF, the anti-narcotics squads had already collaborated with the special squads of the Excise, Railway Protection Force, and Motor Vehicles departments to ensure strict vigil at all possible public spots. The identified drug hotspots in Kozhikode city and rural areas would be covered regularly during joint checking drives, they said.

“We have already nabbed several migrant workers and foreign nationals who were involved in drug peddling. Foreign nationals who had been arrested earlier were caught after detailed investigations and visits to sensitive locations,” said a sub-inspector who had probed a few major drug trafficking cases in Kozhikode city. He added that more foreign nationals were under the scanner for suspected drug deals and fund transfers with peddlers in Kerala and neighbouring States.

Coastal police sources said a separate squad would conduct regular patrols along the coastline to check the suspected use of fishing boats for drug trafficking. Coastal vigilance committees comprising fishermen and local administrators in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod had already been asked to cooperate with the heightened surveillance and to report any suspicious activity, they added.