Maharashtra govt to set up detention centres for foreign nationals indulging in drug peddling: Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that detention centres would be set up for foreign nationals indulging in drug peddling, reported the PTI.

Devendra Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly, he said that detention centres would be set up for foreign nationals indulging in drug peddling, overstaying their visa limit and committing petty crimes to evade deportation, according to the PTI.

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The government has also decided to appoint Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as the nodal agency to control the distribution of the banned drugs, Devendra Fadnavis said responding to a question raised by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Rohit Pawar.

We have noticed that some Nigerians as well as other foreign nationals are allegedly involved in the supply of narcotics drugs. They overstay in Maharashtra violating the visa norms. To avoid deportation for such violation, they indulge in petty crimes and manage to stay here longer, said Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister.

To prevent such practices, the Maharashtra government has decided to set up detention centres where these foreign nationals will be kept until their deportation. We have also decided to appoint the ATS as the nodal agency to control the distribution of drugs, Devendra Fadnavis said.

Commenting on drug transportation via containers at ports, Devendra Fadnavis said the Union as well as state governments have tightened security at the borders, putting a check on the supply of such banned drugs.

Hence, the suppliers have started using containers to transport drugs in large quantities, he said.

It is true that ports like Mundra and JNPT have reported supply of drugs under the name of something else. The process of procurement of hi-tech scanners is going on. These scanners will be able to detect the banned substances, he added.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has burnt 161 kg drugs worth Rs 64.36 crore at a facility in Navi Mumbai, an official said on Monday, reported the PTI.

These narcotics and psychotropic drugs were seized by various units of ATS in four different cases, he told the PTI.

The seized drugs were put in the incineration facility of the Mumbai Waste Management Ltd at Taloja in neighbouring Navi Mumbai in the presence of ATS's drug destruction committee, the official added.

(with PTI inputs)