Assam Police arrested over 1,000 drugs peddlers in May

The DGP of Assam said, “1,008 people have been arrested and 618 cases registered since the crackdown on drugs began in January.”

New Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s war on drugs, police have arrested several dealers and seized large quantities of illegal substances over the past week.

The Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said, “35 arrests were made and 20 cases registered on Sunday alone and the seizer list from that day consisted of 469.7 grams of heroin, 574.31 kg ganja, 1499 tablets, and Rs 20, 700 in cash.

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Mr Sarma tweeted his congratulation: “Good work by Assam Police to address the menace of narcotics.”

Last month, 2,439 grams of heroin, 91 kg of ganja, 17,551 bottles of cough syrup, around 1.57 lakh methamphetamine tablets, 14.16 grams of morphine, and Rs 10.5 lakh in cash were seized.

The DGP also said, “1,008 people have been arrested and 618 cases registered since the crackdown on drugs began in January.”

“We have launched a massive operation against the drug trade in Assam. Our focus is on drug peddlers because we need to break the supply chain and they are at the lower levels… transporting drugs to the customers. Our fight will be long but we will continue,” he said.

“If we want to hit supply we have to go from the lower level. We have changed our strategy and are focusing on peddlers, not big smugglers. Insurgents groups in the northeast are also involved,” the DGP explained, indicating that insurgents often provide security for the drug smugglers.

“I appeal to the society to not treat as criminals… rather as patients and help them in rehabilitation. Many are trying to understand them. Society has a big role to play in supporting them to go to rehabilitation centres for treatment,” he further said.

The DGP also referred to poppy farms that are the main source of drug production.