Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said that the ongoing crackdown on peddlers of synthetic drugs, cannabis and other narcotic substances would be intensified and sustained until the last offender involved in the drug trade is brought to justice. Emphasising a zero-tolerance approach towards drug peddling, he said the police were determined to dismantle drug distribution networks operating in and around the city.

Addressing a meeting with representatives of educational institutions at the Town Hall, the Commissioner said the police department has been carrying out continuous and targeted operations to curb the supply and consumption of narcotic substances. He noted that the recent drug screening drive conducted among students yielded encouraging results, with no students testing positive for drug use. Expressing confidence in the city’s anti-drug efforts, he said the ‘drug-free Mangaluru’ campaign would be a complete success with sustained cooperation from institutions and the public.

Focus on educational institutions

The Police Commissioner urged all educational institutions to mandatorily activate anti-drug committees on their campuses. He said these committees should play a proactive role in identifying students who may be at risk of substance abuse and ensuring they receive timely counselling and support.

He stressed that educational institutions must not hesitate to approach the police for assistance. “The police department will extend full cooperation. Our officers will regularly visit campuses to guide institutions and support efforts to rehabilitate students affected by substance abuse,” he said.

Clarifying the department’s approach, Mr. Reddy said students found using drugs would be treated as victims rather than criminals. “Our priority is to help them come out of addiction. However, those involved in supplying or peddling drugs will face strict legal action without any leniency,” he added.

Low detection rate in screening drive

Addressing concerns over the extent of substance abuse in the city, the Commissioner shared data from recent screening efforts. He said that between June 2025 and January 17, 2026, a total of 5,356 drug tests were conducted, out of which only 14 cases were detected.

“This shows that while the problem exists, it is not widespread as perceived. At the same time, even a single case is a matter of concern, and we will not lower our guard,” he said. He attributed the relatively low detection rate to consistent enforcement, awareness programmes and cooperation from educational institutions.

Call for stricter regulation of PG accommodations

Responding to complaints about the unchecked growth of paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city, the Commissioner said better regulation was essential to maintain law and order and prevent misuse of such facilities.

He suggested that the Mangaluru City Corporation should make it mandatory for PG operators to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Police Department before licences are issued. According to him, this would help authorities keep track of such establishments and prevent them from becoming hubs for illegal activities, including drug use and trafficking.

District-level coordination to curb narcotics

At a separate district-level Narco Coordination Committee meeting, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan instructed officials to conduct continuous and regular checks to prevent the sale of narcotics and smoking in shops located near educational institutions. He said special attention should be paid to areas surrounding schools and colleges to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed all educational institutions to periodically organise awareness programmes on substance abuse, highlighting the harmful physical, psychological and social consequences of drug use. He expressed displeasure over the failure of the Deputy Director of Pre-University Education to conduct such programmes in pre-university colleges and instructed officials to ensure compliance without delay.

Inspections of lodges, homestays and boats

As part of broader preventive measures, the Deputy Commissioner instructed officials to carry out regular inspections of homestays and lodges to ensure they are not misused for illegal activities. He also asked the Coast Guard to conduct surprise inspections of boats, especially in coastal areas, to prevent the smuggling of narcotic substances through maritime routes.

Officials said coordination between various departments would be strengthened to ensure intelligence sharing and swift action against offenders involved in the drug trade.

Senior officials present

Senior officials, including Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun and Deputy Commissioner of Police H.N. Mithun, were present at the meetings. They reiterated their commitment to working closely with educational institutions, local bodies and enforcement agencies to eliminate drug abuse from the district.

Conclusion

The renewed emphasis on enforcement, awareness and rehabilitation reflects the administration’s multi-pronged strategy to combat drug abuse in the city. With sustained police action, institutional cooperation and community participation, authorities expressed confidence that Mangaluru could emerge as a model city in the fight against narcotics and substance abuse.