Encrypted messaging apps aid in the sale of narcotics, says ADGP A. Amalraj

The Hindu

2 days ago

The proliferation of encrypted messaging applications and social media groups has made tracking drug sales and transactions more complex, according to A. Amalraj, Additional Director-General of Police, Enforcement Bureau-CID.
Drug-law enforcement agencies tightened vigil on habitual offenders and known drug syndicates, but those who smuggle narcotic substances through land and sea borders are transacting on social media platforms.
'Social media platforms are now being used to sell narcotics disguised as candies or chocolates — a trend that has prompted swift police crackdowns. Nightlife venues, hostels, and college campuses remain the prime targets for drug-peddlers,' Dr Amalraj said.
Based on a robust strategy encompassing prevention, detection, enforcement, inter-agency coordination, destruction of contraband, financial investigations, and youth awareness programmes, Tamil Nadu's response stood out as a model for other States, he said.
The State police had intensified operations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, targeting hotspots of drug activity and adopting advanced surveillance methods. The illicit drugs were mostly trafficked from other States. Between 2021 and 2025, the Tamil Nadu Police had seized over 107 tonnes of Ganja, 3.2 lakh tablets of pharmaceutical drugs, and 1,223 kg of other narcotic substances.
Ganja-infused chocolates
Dr. Amalraj said the seizure of 5,250 ganja-infused chocolates in July, 'which were meant to be sold discreetly to college students', was one example of the evolving tactics of drug syndicates and the proactive response of law-enforcement agencies.
Underscoring the need for community participation in eradicating the menace of drugs, he said an appeal had been made to the people to report suspected drug activities on designated helplines (10581), WhatsApp [phone]), and email ([e-mail]).
Dr. Amalraj said Tamil Nadu's proximity to States where the drugs originated and its extensive coastline made it a strategic location for drug-traffickers. To control the trafficking of drugs into the State, regular coordination was established with the Anti-Narcotic Task Forces of the neighbouring States. These partnerships facilitated enhanced surveillance, intelligence-sharing, and joint raids, particularly in border areas and on drug-smuggling routes.
He said the drugs were not just a social problem but an illegal business often tied to elaborate financial networks.
In this backdrop, the State had aggressively pursued financial investigations to dismantle the economic infrastructure supporting narcotics trade. Between 2021 and 2025, law-enforcement agencies froze 8,949 bank accounts and 45 properties valued at more than ₹21 crore.
Recognising that prevention was more sustainable than cure, the State launched awareness campaigns targeting schools and colleges.
The 'Enakku Vendam, Nammaku Vendam' initiative reached over 74 lakh students who pledged to stay away from narcotics. The Chief Minister administered an anti-drug pledge every year to students on August 11.
Dr. Amalraj said the State had turned its educational institutions into frontline battlegrounds against substance abuse. Anti-drug clubs now functioned at almost all colleges, coordinated by district-level monitoring teams that reported to the Collector and the Superintendent of Police. Volunteers were trained in identifying early signs of drug usage and counselling.
New threat
While traditional narcotics like ganja and heroin continued to pose challenges, Tamil Nadu was facing a new threat — the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs. Between 2023 and 2025, seizure of pharmaceutical drugs rose sharply from 39,910 to over 1.42 lakh tablets. These included prescription drugs, such as painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, anti-depressants, and stimulants, often diverted from legal channels or procured from online platforms. This alarming trend prompted increased regulation of pharmacies and monitoring of e-commerce platforms.
Investigators cracked down on the prescription drug trafficking networks. Reports suggested that illegal distribution networks spanned States like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Dealers employed various methods, including the crushing of tablets for injection, combining drugs with nitrous oxide, and selling them in the form of a candy, the ADGP said.
He said the State's anti-drug strategy went beyond punitive action. The State had inaugurated 25 de-addiction centres at government hospitals to offer free treatment, counselling, and vocational training. In parallel, Kalangarai Centres offered integrated support for addicts seeking reintegration into society. This was a positive step to wean off those caught in the web.