Shillong, Oct 8: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday announced that Meghalaya Police has been directed to launch a strong crackdown on identified drug hotspots across the state, assuring that aggressive action will be taken in the coming days to curb the menace.
Speaking after a review meeting of the DREAM Mission, which brought together officials, community leaders, private stakeholders, and faith-based organizations, the chief minister said the government is adopting a multi-pronged approach combining enforcement, rehabilitation, and community participation.
“We want to send a strong message that the government is very serious about tackling this issue. Police have been asked to crack down on areas where drugs and illegal substances are being sold. Surprise raids and checks will be carried out, and no stone will be left unturned,” Sangma stated.
The CM revealed that one of the key outcomes of the meeting was a decision to establish minimum infrastructure for rehabilitation in every district headquarters. At least one detoxification and one de-addiction centre will be set up, either in government hospitals, private institutions, faith-based organizations, or NGOs willing to collaborate with the state.
Sangma added that training programmes will be conducted to ensure adequate manpower—doctors, nurses, and other staff—are available to run these facilities. The government aims to make the centres functional within the next three to four months.
On enforcement, Sangma stressed that the crackdown would extend beyond supply networks to the retail level, where sales directly impact youth. CCTV cameras will be installed in vulnerable areas, manpower will be increased, and police, excise, and community groups will work together to conduct regular surprise inspections.
Acknowledging that the problem is alarming, the chief minister said, “Even if there is one drug user, it is a matter of concern for me. We will not stop till the last user is rehabilitated and Meghalaya becomes drug-free.”
While Sangma did not disclose specific hotspot areas, he clarified that police have adequate intelligence and community support to identify and act on them. “We cannot target all places at once, but we will begin with certain key areas to send a strong message,” he said.
The government is also looking into regulating costs and pricing of rehabilitation services to ensure accessibility.
Reiterating the state’s determination, Sangma said the fight against drugs will be pursued on all fronts—police action, rehabilitation, and community participation—until the menace is fully controlled.
