Ahmedabad, June 26: The Gujarat Police celebrated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Friday with awareness programs in Ahmedabad and Surat. Senior officials reaffirmed the state’s commitment to combat drug trafficking and prevent substance abuse through continuous action and community engagement.
In Ahmedabad, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) organized a cyclothon at the Sabarmati Riverfront to raise awareness about drug abuse.
Director General of Police (DGP) and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, G.S. Malik, flagged off the event, which saw participation from police personnel, officials, students, and the general public.
On this occasion, Malik stated that June 26, recognized globally as the International Day Against Drug Abuse, provides an opportunity to strengthen awareness about the growing challenges related to drugs.
He remarked, “We organized a cyclothon here today. Police SPs, other staff, private individuals, and the public participated. The main goal was to raise awareness, as issues and challenges related to drugs are on the rise.”
This cyclothon was part of a special awareness initiative under the ANTF’s collective resolution for a ‘Drug-Free India.’
In Surat, the city police held a public awareness rally, which included senior police officials, students from schools and colleges, local residents, NGOs, and media representatives.
This rally aimed to promote awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and encourage public participation in anti-drug efforts.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot emphasized that the city police has been organizing this annual rally for several years to reaffirm their commitment against drugs. Gehlot stated, “The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed today. For many years, the Surat city police has held a rally on this day. Students from schools and colleges, the public, NGOs, volunteer organizations, and media personnel participate. Today, we demonstrate our unity and resolve to continue fighting against drugs throughout the year and take strict action.”
These awareness campaigns were launched a day after the state government released data on actions taken against drugs over the past five years. Official statistics indicate that during this period, police registered over 3,700 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, arrested 5,346 individuals, and seized more than 136,000 kilograms of narcotics valued at over ₹13,600 crores.
Officials reported that the state has also strengthened its framework against drugs through de-addiction and rehabilitation initiatives, dedicated forces, technology-based investigations, and reward schemes for those providing actionable intelligence.
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