Mangaluru: After Bengaluru, Mangaluru has emerged as a major hub in Karnataka’s expanding and increasingly dangerous narcotics network. Long celebrated as an education destination attracting thousands of students from across the country, the coastal city has also gained an unwelcome reputation as a growing drugs market. However, a sustained, district-wide crackdown by the police over recent months has shaken drug peddlers and led to visible, positive changes on the ground.
Despite this progress, authorities admit that dismantling a narcotics network that has spread its tentacles over nearly a decade remains a formidable challenge. Mangaluru’s status as an education hub, combined with its excellent road, rail, sea and air connectivity, has made the district particularly conducive to drug trafficking and distribution.
Students and youth at the centre of the crisis
Thousands of students from other districts of Karnataka and neighbouring states pursue higher education in Mangaluru. According to police and education officials, this demographic, along with the wider youth population, has become the primary target of drug syndicates.
In a recent random drug test conducted at colleges in the district, it was confirmed that nearly 20 per cent of students had consumed narcotics. This alarming statistic has reinforced concerns that drug abuse is no longer limited to isolated pockets but has seeped deep into student life.
“Driven by greed for easy money, some students themselves are turning into peddlers. Local youth are also getting trapped and suffering. We have seen many such cases in recent years,” said the principal of a private educational institution in the city, highlighting the social damage caused by the drug trade.
Kerala link fuels uninterrupted supply
One of the biggest challenges faced by law enforcement agencies is the steady inflow of drugs from Kerala. Dakshina Kannada district shares more than ten road links and railway routes with Kerala, enabling uninterrupted movement of narcotics.
Police officials say that a significant number of students from Kerala study in Mangaluru, and drug syndicates are exploiting this demographic link to expand addiction networks locally. The porous nature of inter-state borders and frequent movement of people have made monitoring and interception difficult, despite intensified checks.
International, Mumbai and Delhi routes exposed
The scale and sophistication of the narcotics network came to light in March this year, when Mangaluru police cracked what is considered the biggest drug case in the state. MDMA worth Rs 75 crore was seized, and two South African women were arrested in Bengaluru in connection with the case.
Investigations revealed that the accused were regularly supplying drugs via flights from Delhi. Police sources said several foreign nationals, including those from African countries and Nigeria, are actively expanding the drug network through local peddlers in coastal Karnataka.
Apart from international routes, supplies are also being channelled from Mumbai to Mangaluru. While local peddlers are frequently arrested, police admit that the “invisible hands” controlling the syndicates from outside the state continue to remain elusive.
Rising concern over women and minors
Adding to the concern is the growing number of underage girls and young women falling prey to drug addiction. Police have noted a rise in incidents where young women are drawn into substance abuse under the guise of parties, pubs and club culture.
Officials warn that drug addiction among minors not only destroys young lives but also feeds organised crime, as addicts are often forced into peddling to sustain their dependency.
Strong leadership and sustained enforcement
Taking serious note of the spike in drug-related crimes, Mangaluru City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police Dr Arun have made the war on drugs their top priority.
Their sustained offensive against peddlers has created fear within drug networks and renewed public confidence that “drug-hit Mangaluru” can gradually move towards becoming drug-free.
Within the limits of the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate, 160 drug peddlers were arrested in 2024. This number has already risen to 212 this year, with nearly 80 per cent of the accused currently lodged in jail.
Sharp fall in consumption cases
The impact of the crackdown is evident in official data. Drug consumption cases within the commissionerate limits have dropped sharply from 1,244 in 2024 to 661 this year, indicating a significant reduction in availability and use.
So far this year, police have seized large quantities of narcotics, including 319.335 kg of ganja, 1.297 kg of MDMA, 14.4 grams of hydro weed ganja, 21.03 grams of cocaine, 186 grams of opium, 19.95 grams of methamphetamine, 125.46 grams of charas and 1.319 kg of bhang chocolate.
Public participation offers hope
Police officials say public participation has strengthened the fight against narcotics, with increased tip-offs and cooperation from educational institutions, parents and community groups.
While acknowledging that the battle is far from over, senior officers maintain that sustained enforcement, combined with awareness and community involvement, can help dismantle the entrenched drug network over time. The recent gains, they say, are a clear sign that determined policing can bring meaningful change to Mangaluru’s streets.