Shops near schools and colleges PoS for drugs

Law and order, anti-narcotic and special teams focus mainly on pubs and clubs to nab drug peddlers, but in the latest drug bust in the city, it was small vendors and small shops (buddy kottu) located near schools and corporate colleges that were found to be the points of sale of drugs.

Investigating officials found that students frequently visit these outlets during school hours to get the drugs. "After nabbing the gang, we kept an eye on such shops. We found that students addicted to drugs visited such hubs before school hours and after school closed. Kelvin (one of the main accused arrested earlier) used to supply the drugs even on bikes at a few schools and the addicted students knew him and his associates,” an official involved in the investigation said.

Director of Excise Enforcement Akun Sabharwal said that the department has sent notices to principals of international schools and colleges about what they have discovered. “We have sent notices to principals of other schools too, directing them to maintain surveillance and pass on information to the police whenever they see strangers or suspicious persons. We have asked colleges and schools to counsel the identified victims,” he said.

He said that hundreds of drug suppliers exist in the city and special teams are out to nab them.

He said some parents knew their children were addicted to drugs but didn't know what to do. “We are insisting on counselling sessions. First, they should know what stage of addiction has been reached,” he said.