Courier firms in narco bracket if drugs found in parcel, says Maharashtra govt

NAGPUR: With the changing modus operandi of delivering illegal drugs, the Maharashtra government plans to bring courier delivery companies under the purview of the law. Home minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the House that courier companies would be held equally liable if narcotic substances are found in packets delivered by them.

Replying to a starred query by Jitendra Awhad, Jayant Patil, Rohit Pawar and others, the Southwest Nagpur MLA said the government had also started a crackdown against the police, who connive with drug peddlers in drug delivery.

“In last year or so, we have seized drugs worth ₹50,000 crore in various raids. There have been cases of narcotics coming through couriers. These companies have also been told to follow certain procedures to check such instances. If any suspicious packet is found, instructions have been given to verify it and report it to the police.”

On involvement of police in such crimes, Fadnavis said they had dismissed ten policemen so far under Section 311, including an assistant superintendent of police. “Four of them were related to drug peddler Lalit Patil’s case. We have also suspended a dean (of BJ Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital) for keeping Patil for a long time in the hospital and are investigating the criminal angle.”

Stressing on the need for a special law to attach the properties of drug peddlers, Fadnavis also announced that the government was in talks with NGOs like those operated by Tatas or Birlas to set up de-addiction centres in all districts to treat drug addicts. “The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) is already constituted to combat ever increasing drug menace and all districts would have a unit of this force at the respective police stations. It will act against drug peddlers and smugglers. An anti-narcotics committee has been formed at each district level under the chairmanship of the collector.”

Adding that the government was keeping an eye on closed factories, the deputy CM said it was noticed that drugs were being manufactured in closed factories. “Action is being taken if such instances are found. We are also monitoring the import of chemicals as drugs are being manufactured based on chemicals. In narcotics crime, earlier investigations were limited to the investigation of drug suppliers (peddlers) and cases were closed. Now, we are going to the root and nabbing the kingpin. The centre would be amending the existing law and if necessary, we will also try to make a separate law in the state as well,” he said.