Drug menace

The Sindh police have achieved notable success in curbing drug trafficking in the province but there are greedy cops too who are assisting, of course in exchange for money, drug dealers and peddlers in carrying out their illicit and dangerous trade. The provincial government has credible information that some police personnel are facilitating drug traffickers at various levels, and this is resulting in spreading drug addiction. The chief minister has asked police officers to weed out the undesirable elements from the police force.

The following figures show the commendable performance of upright cops and also the extent to which narco traders have spread their tentacles. In the last 10 days of August, there were five cases of harassment of minorities, 22 of violence against women, and nine of crimes against children. And in the same period, there were 198 cases relating to trade in narcotics and 798 against the drug mafia; and 798 persons were arrested for their involvement in the dirty trade. Huge quantities of charas, heroin, ice, opium and liquor were recovered. Within those 10 days, two notorious gangs of drug traffickers were smashed and their leaders and members arrested.

There are two sides to every story, so these figures, on the one hand, show the success of the law-enforcement agencies and, on the other hand, suggest that corrupt cops are protecting and helping drug traders. A vast majority of police officials are doing their best to uproot the drug menace, but few unscrupulous cops are engaged in sabotaging their efforts. They are the few rotten fish spoiling the whole pond. They are doing the opposite of what they are supposed to do. In view of this ironic situation, the CM has ordered a crackdown on the drug mafia and drug peddlers. The CM has asserted that the drug mafia is playing a significant role in the rising street crimes and ordered relentless action also against street criminals. Now most street crimes are occurring in Karachi’s district East.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2021.

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