Hyd to track drug offenders like history sheeters

Hyderabad Commissioner of Police V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, on Friday announced that drug offenders and peddlers will now be monitored with the same intensity as history-sheeters, marking a major escalation in the city’s fight against narcotics.

Speaking at a high-level coordination meeting on narcotics control at the Telangana Command and Control Centre (TGICCC), the Commissioner said the police are committed to dismantling drug networks through tighter surveillance, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action. The meeting was attended by representatives from the IB, DRI, NCB, Excise Department, Counter Intelligence, EAGLE, FRRO, and other agencies.

To strengthen field operations, CP Sajjanar announced the expansion of the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) with four to five new teams. These units will focus on ground-level intelligence and swift apprehension of drug offenders. Calling the anti-drug campaign a “continuous battle”, he directed departments to meet monthly to monitor case progress, exchange data on habitual offenders, and study evolving smuggling techniques.

Officials also raised concerns about the involvement of foreign nationals in drug trafficking. Strategies were discussed to maintain strict surveillance at airports and coordinate with central agencies to track suspicious travelers. The Commissioner instructed officials to monitor individuals arriving on medical visas, noting that those failing to report to hospitals must be traced immediately in coordination with DRI and FRRO.

The meeting also reviewed the misuse of courier services for transporting narcotics and stressed the need for tighter checks.

Senior officials including Cyderabad CP Avinash Mohanty, IB Joint Director Thirugnana Sambandhan, DRI Deputy Director Guru Rajesh, NCB Assistant Director Vishnu Vardhan, and others participated in the deliberations.