Medical Stores Inspected To Curb Illegal Sale Of Narcotic Drugs Under State-Wide Search Operation In Gujarat
Stores Near Schools, Colleges Given Special Attention
Recently, a mega search operation was conducted by the police in different cities of Gujarat, with the aim to curb the illegal sale and abuse of narcotic drugs. As a part of which, on Wednesday (July 9), medical stores in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Valsad, among other cities, were raided, in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Department. The state-wide operation is devoted to control the illegal sale of narcotic drugs, which promotes drug addiction, mainly among the youth.
In addition to the Gujarat Police, the raids also witnessed the participation of the local police, the Local Crime Branch (LCB), the Special Operation Group (SOG), and the officials of the Food and Drugs Department.
In Ahmedabad, 724 medical stores were inspected, in which 160 cases were registered, including one under the NDPS Act. As of Surat, inspection was conducted in 333 stores, in which more than 95 bottles of codeine syrup, and 5 bottles of alpramazole were seized. On the other hand, 282 stores were inspected in Valsad, where 45 cases, including one under the NDPS Act, were registered.
The campaign also revealed that drugs like amidopyrine, phenacetin, nialamide, chloramphenicol, furazolidone, oxyphenbutazone, and metronidazole were being sold without a doctor’s prescription. The illegal sale of these drugs leads to the youth getting addicted to them. Moreover, they are also dangerous for health. Medical stores situated near schools, colleges, and other educational institutions were given special attention, as the risk of drug abuse among students is higher there.
In addition, the campaign spanned across other places as well, including 61 medical stores in Patan, 184 in Navsari, 66 in Jamnagar, 258 in Bharuch, 23 in Ahwa-Daang, 129 in Dahod, 112 in Panchmahal, and 317 in Gandhinagar getting inspected. Notably, Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi had mentioned about adopting a policy of zero tolerance against narcotic drugs. This operation is expected to help in limiting the dangers caused due to drugs in the state.