Operation against drug peddlers will continue till the last peddler is arrested: Police Commissioner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 21, 2026: Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said the crackdown on peddlers of synthetic drugs, cannabis, and other narcotic substances would be intensified and continued until the last offender is brought to justice.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of educational institutions at the Town Hall, Mr. Reddy said the police department is carrying out continuous operations to dismantle drug distribution networks. He noted that no students tested positive for drugs in the recent screening drive and expressed confidence that the drug-free Mangaluru campaign would be a complete success.

He urged educational institutions to mandatorily activate anti-drug committees and identify students suspected of substance use through counselling. The police department would extend full cooperation, he said, adding that officers would regularly visit campuses to assist institutions in rehabilitating students affected by substance abuse. While students using drugs would be treated as victims, strict action would be taken against peddlers.

Addressing concerns about the prevalence of substance abuse in the city, the Commissioner said that only 14 cases were detected out of 5,356 tests conducted between June 2025 and January 17, 2026.

NOC for PG accommodations

Responding to complaints about the unchecked growth of paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city, Mr. Reddy said the City Corporation should make it mandatory for PG operators to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Police Department before issuing licences.

Continuous checks

Meanwhile, chairing the district-level Narco Coordination Committee meeting, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan instructed officials to conduct regular checks to prevent the sale of narcotics and smoking in shops located near educational institutions.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed all educational institutions to periodically organise awareness programmes on substance abuse. He expressed displeasure with the Deputy Director of Pre-University Education for failing to conduct such programmes in pre-university colleges.

He further instructed officials to carry out regular inspections of homestays and lodges, and asked the Coast Guard to conduct surprise inspections of boats.

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun, Deputy Commissioner of Police H.N. Mithun, and other officials were present.