KOCHI: When the state government opened bars as part of liquor policy reversal, its one main justification was the move would bring down drug abuse, bootlegging and illicit liquor brewing. Five months on, the figures tell a different story.The Excise Department’s enforcement activity statistics show there is no depletion in narcotic and abkari cases in the state. The inflow of contraband and illicit liquor continues unabated even after the bars were reopened after a gap of nearly two years. Alarmingly, the situation has triggered another social malady.
Experts say it has created persons addicted to both alcohol and drugs! Those who switched to alternatives like smoking ganja due to the unavailability of liquor now take alcohol along with drugs. A major quantity of the contraband seized is ganja while the sleuths recovered high-end drugs too.
Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) Anti-Liquor Movement leader Charlie Paul said wherever liquor consumption is high, the addiction to other drugs is also high.
“Punjab is the best example. Records show it’s top among the states in liquor consumption and has the highest number of drug-abuse cases. It’s quite natural those addicted to liquor seek other options for a high,” said Charlie. The Excise smells a rat in the spike of drug abuse cases. The department suspects involvement of an international mafia behind the smuggling to target youngsters, especially school students.
An average of 100 kg of ganja was seized by the Excise sleuths every month over the five months till October. Besides, they recovered an average of 12,000 litres of spurious liquor every month. Even after the opening of bars, drug abuse cases remain in stagnation, said Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) A Vijayan.
“Those who switched to ganja and other drugs haven’t stopped them even after the opening of bars and it was the main reason for the no-downfall of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) cases,” he said. Vijayan said Higher Secondary School students were the main target of the mafia. “Hence, the department has shifted its focus to provide awareness to schoolchildren to keep them away from these mafia,” said Vijayan.