The rise in drug-smuggling rackets, which have been spreading their tentacles in Kaliachak and surrounding areas of Malda, and inducting youths in the illegal trade, has made Malda district police draw up plans to weed out smugglers and dissuade youngsters from peddling.

Amitabha Maiti, the superintendent of police of Malda, said they have drawn up a two-fold strategy to curb these activities.

“Raids are on to book the hooligans (involved in smuggling drugs) and find illegal firearms and ammunition. Those fanning such violence are being dealt with seriously. At the same time we are planning to conduct awareness campaigns to explain the disastrous effects of narcotics addiction and involvement in illegal activities,” said Maiti.

Initially, it has been decided that police teams will visit localities for the campaign and in due course, educational institutions will be roped in for awareness among students.

The district police have also planned to use popular mediums for their awareness campaign by engaging local folk singers, theatre groups for street skits. Films on the ill-effects of drug abuse will also be shown.

Kaliachak, which many former police officers believe sits on a powder keg owing to an array of illegal activities in the area such as trans-border smuggling, manufacture of illegal firearms and crude bombs and circulation of fake Indian currency notes, has also become a hub of narcotics smuggling in recent years.

“Many youths are getting drawn into smuggling narcotics nowadays as they can make quick bucks by peddling a small amount of drugs. This must stop,” said a senior police officer.

According to him, even youths from areas near Kaliachak like Baishnabnagar and Englishbazar are joining this illegal trade.

“One can make Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 by simply delivering 100 grams of heroin or brown sugar to its destination. Some peddlers had also been addicts before joining the trade,” the officer added.

That the smuggling of narcotic has gained traction in Kaliachak was evident last week when groups of smugglers attacked each other with guns and bombs for territorial control. Two youths, suspected to be members of these smuggling rackets, had suffered bullet injuries. Police had conducted raids and seized a number of firearms, live bullets and bombs.

A retired schoolteacher in Kaliachak pointed out the level of desperation among youths involved in smuggling narcotics. During recent a police raid, a young drug peddler opened fire at the police. The bullet hit a minor who died instantly.

“All those arrested in connection with the case are only 20 to 22 years old,” the teacher said. “We believe the police should also nab those who run these smuggling rackets, which operate in tiers,” he said.

In Malda, police, the BSF and other agencies frequently seize drugs, cough syrups and intoxicant tablets.

“We always try to identify the masterminds of these rackets. There had been some arrests earlier and our drive against them will continue in a regular manner,” said a senior police officer.