Pubdate: Tue, 11 Sep 2012
Source: Tribune, The (India)
Copyright: The Tribune Trust, 2012
Contact:  http://www.tribuneindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5042
Author: Jupinderjit Singh

PUNJAB, HARYANA, RAJASTHAN COPS JOIN HANDS TO FIGHT DRUG MENACE

Badal (Muktsar), Sept 11 - Alarmed over massive inflow of narcotic 
drugs into Punjab in recent years, police officers from three states 
today decided to share information every fortnight and cut supply and 
escape routes of narcotic smugglers on the run.

Inspector General Nirmal Singh Dhillon said the police officers have 
identified 48 sensitive points used by criminals on Punjab's border 
with Haryana and Rajasthan. He said the drug route stretched from 
Rajasthan to Punjab and Haryana via Kandu Khera village in Muktsar district.

Police officers interact with mediapersons on Tuesday. Tribune photo: 
Pawan Sharma

The police officers have also decided to swiftly seal the borders in 
case of emergency, appoint nodal officers in each district to 
communicate with each other and conduct joint raids.

The need for a joint strategy has come at a time when Punjab has 
reported the worst drug scenario. From a state known as the transit 
point of smuggling between the Gulf and Middle-East to Europe, Canada 
and the US, it has now become a major consumption point.

Police figures say Rs 225 crore worth of drugs, including 7 kg smack, 
45 kg heroin, 225 kg opium and 40,000 kg poppy husk were recovered in 
the Bathinda zone this year alone. Nearly 700 smugglers were nabbed 
during this time.

Police studies reveal that within a decade, Punjab has started 
consuming over 25 per cent of drugs being smuggled from Afghanistan 
and other countries to Europe and the US.

Sources say the criminals have thrived on an excellent network. The 
police of different states, however, is yet to firm up an effective 
mechanism to take on the drug menace.

The police officers on Tuesday exchanged information on gangs active 
in the region, their modules and possible link with terror modules, 
the drug routes and modes of smuggling apart from gangs indulging in 
kidnappings and car-jacking. "The criminals, especially drug 
smugglers, use 26 routes in Fazilka, 18 in Mansa and four in Mukatsar 
to smuggle narcotics or to escape. We have exchanged information 
about hideouts, proclaimed offenders, the networks, and the movement 
of criminals during elections," said Dhillon.

The meeting discussed the category of drugs being smuggled from one 
state or the other. "Our focus is to reach the origin point of the 
various drugs." The police officials exchanged information of how 
opium and poppy husk was coming to Punjab from Rajasthan, which has 
licensed vends of these drugs. Rajasthan police officers revealed how 
liquor from Punjab was being smuggled into Rajasthan. Haryana was the 
main route of smuggling.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom