KUMABALAM: The network of drug mafia has now reached city suburbs aiming at school students and jobless youths.The Kumbalam panchayat, near the Kochi city, has set its mind to fight against drug peddlers and agents working as direct retail outlets of harmful drugs.“The findings of a recent survey on drug addicts in the surrounding areas were really shocking,” local residents said. “Drug trafficking has extended to schools also,” they added.Kumbalam panchayat president A J Joseph said, “The panchayat has decided to cancel the licence for shops that sell sedatives like Pan Parag, Hans and other toxic stimulants. When we took this step, these sedative sellers tried hiding these items in their houses. So the Health Inspector could not locate any sedative from these shops.”He said, “When the matter went beyond our control, we sought help from Vyapari Vyavasayi organisations to prevent shopkeepers from storing drugs in their houses. We have got complete support from these organisations.” Now the traffickers have targeted remote areas near fishing farms and lakeshores. As part of creating awareness against drug trafficking among locals, an anti-drug rally inaugurated by Joseph, was held at Cheppanam, near Chathamma Lake. “Even though we are trying hard to chase away drug peddlers, we are sometimes confronted by trouble,” said a youth, who shared a bitter experience he had with the police. He said, “One day I came across drug traffickers near a fish farm. I informed this to the police. Soon I got a threatening call from the drug mafia asking me to keep away from their business. “How did these people identify me so quickly if I informed the matter only to the police?”
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