Hyderabad, May 7: The newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP) of Telangana has urged the state police force to work diligently towards making the state drug-free, similar to how special agencies united to eliminate Maoist influence. During a review meeting of the Eagle Force, a special unit established for drug control, the DGP emphasized the need for community involvement in this campaign for the future of children.
He noted that while he still has several wings to review since taking over, prioritizing the Eagle Force was essential. The DGP stated that just as the Special Intelligence Bureau and Greyhounds played crucial roles in anti-Naxal operations, the Eagle Force will provide intelligence and investigative support across all districts. He called upon district Superintendents of Police and police commissioners to coordinate effectively with the Eagle Force.
Officials reported that drug cases in 2023 rose from 1,464 to 2,734 by 2025, with arrests increasing from 3,157 to 5,703. The national average for arrests per case is 1.3, while Telangana’s average stands at 3.1, indicating that the police are targeting not just suppliers but the entire network and masterminds behind drug trafficking.
The DGP instructed officials to enhance the use of modern technology, including money trails, digital forensics, geo-location tracking, social media monitoring, and surveillance on the dark web. He stressed the need to dismantle foreign drug syndicates and hawala networks completely.
The Eagle Force has already exposed Nigerian drug cartels and hawala networks operating from Goa and Delhi. So far, 93 foreign nationals from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan have been deported.
The DGP also highlighted the importance of increasing awareness programs in schools and colleges. He mentioned that around 4,500 anti-drug committees have been formed in the state, but they have not yielded the desired results. A proposal is being prepared to establish new comprehensive committees that will address issues beyond drugs, including ragging, cybercrime, women’s safety, child exploitation, and road safety.
He warned that if any educational institution is found harboring drugs or other illegal activities without reporting them, action will be taken against them. The DGP stated that hiding such incidents out of fear of “bad publicity” is an evasion of responsibility. Additionally, a proposal is being drafted to make a pledge stating “I will not take drugs” mandatory for students during admission.
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