Guwahati: As many as 19 drug peddlers have been arrested in Guwahati and 215.11 grams of suspected brown sugar/heroin valued at Rs 21.5 lakh has been recovered, police said in a tweet.
Additionally, cash amounting to Rs. 2,76,220, 4,800 codeine syrup bottles valued at Rs 8 lakh and 6 vehicles have also been recovered. To stop the drug menace dead in its tracks, the Assam Police has kickstarted a campaign to raise awareness against the habit. Recently, the most prominent singers and actors came forward to assert their support to the police's anti-drug campaign with a musical anthem.
A general impression prevails that the major cities, towns, urban, and semi-urban, even rural areas of Assam are affected by the menace of drugs. According to statistics prepared by a non-governmental organization Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM) the urban, semi-urban and rural youths are well under the grip of drugs. The unchecked rise in the smuggling of foreign cigarettes and synthetic drugs has led to an increasing number of cases being registered in the state under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The incidence of drug abuse in urban areas is higher than that of rural areas and according to reports, the incidence of drug abuse has been found to be highest in the capital city of Guwahati.