BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has decided to set up a dedicated narcotics control unit in the special task force (STF) of the state Crime Branch to effectively combat drug trafficking in the state.
The government has also sanctioned 27 new posts for the STF.
“Odisha police have been cracking the whip against drug traffickers for quite some time.
The STF has been leading the fight against the drug trafficking for Odisha police.
The government has approved our proposals for strengthening the STF,” director general of police Abhay said.
The 27 new posts include one in the rank of superintendent of police (SP) and three deputy superintendents of police (DSPs).
The new narcotics unit of the STF will be headed by an SP.
“The STF will now have two dedicated units headed by one SP each–narcotics unit and organised crime unit.
We thank the government for creation of the posts and establishment of a new unit,” Abhay said.
Sources said the new narcotics unit will coordinate with the district police, excise, narcotics control bureau and the police of other states for concerted efforts to check interstate drug trafficking.
The government had created the STF and economic offences wing (EOW) under the state Crime Branch in August 2011.
The main objective of the EOW is to probe economic crimes like land related forgery, job rackets, banking and credit card frauds.
The STF investigates cases relating to organised crimes, including extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking and left-wing extremism.
Though the STF’s main mandate is to curb organized crimes in the state, crackdown against the drug dealers has remained its focus area.
The STF made record drug hauls last year.
Of the total 35.600 kg of brown sugar that was seized in Odisha last year, the STF seized over 32 kg alone whereas the remaining substances were seized by the police in different districts.
Cost of the seized drugs would come to around Rs 32 crore.
The STF also seized around 66 quintals of ganja last year.
Over 100 drug dealers and peddlers were arrested by the STF in the last one year.
The state police headquarters recently created a four-member committee to screen the profiles of police personnel, who apply for deputation in the STF.
The committee is headed by the additional director general of police (Crime Branch).