Anti-drug police does not have enough staff

Hyderabad: Despite narcotics seizure increasing every year, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) functions with skeletal staff. An inspector, a sub-inspector and half a dozen constabulary staff make up the entire team.

“Basically, we deal with cases registered by the local police and the task force. With a handful of staff, the raids are not happening on a regular basis,” said an official. Busting a narcotics racket is a tough task and needs planning.

In December, Mr V. V. Srinivasa Rao, Hyderabad commissioner, said that special teams, comprising eight members, have been formed to deal with foreign nationals who are involved in drug cases in the city.

On December 30, the city police arrested two Nigerians and a Ghana national and seized 25 gm heroin and 250 gm cocaine from them. 

 In July 2017, the city police arrested a six-member gang, including two African nationals, from Banjara Hills and recovered 300 gm cocaine, 42 gm Ecstasy pills, LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps and LSA (lysergic acid amide) seeds.

Currently, ANC officials are busy in filing chargesheets in the cases registered by the local police and the Task Force.

“A total of 45 chargesheets were filed last year. Investigations in drug cases were pending since 2012 and chargesheets were not filed,” said Mr A. K. Mohanthy, DCP, detective department.

“Given the staff crunch, tracing the addresses of the accused and handing over the summons are major challenges,” said officials. “We have asked the senior officials to provide a few more officers. Soon, more persons will join us,” the DCP said.