Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 14 October 2023
The idyllic Great Nicobar Island, known for its pristine beauty, has largely remained free from the clutches of illegal drugs for years. The last registered case of Ganja importation was registered at PS Campbell Bay years ago.
However, recent times have witnessed an alarming surge in drug seizures across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Police has been proactively tackling the menace of drugs and a notable increase in drug seizures from anti-social elements has been witnessed over the past few months. Notably, these seizures have occurred not only in the capital city of Port Blair but also in remote areas like Diglipur in North and Middle Andaman. Methamphetamine, in addition to Ganja, has emerged as a growing concern among the island’s residents.
Efforts to combat the drug menace must intensify, especially in remote regions of the islands, to ensure that the use of drugs does not become prevalent in these areas.
Great Nicobar, as an isolated island, is primarily vulnerable to drug smuggling via two routes: through ships (both passenger and cargo) and by air (helicopter/Dornier service). In order to prevent the entry of drugs into this pristine paradise, it is imperative that proactive measures are taken.
One such initiative would involve deploying sniffer dogs at Great Nicobar to deter illegal drug importation. Manual inspection of incoming passengers’ luggage is both invasive of their privacy and inconvenient, particularly as passengers have often traveled long distances by ship to reach the island.
These sniffer dogs should also be made to inspect the cargo imported at Great Nicobar, whether it arrives via passenger ships or cargo vessels. Furthermore, the presence of sniffer dogs must also be ensured at Campbell Bay Airport to prevent drug entry through the helicopter and Dornier service.
Implementing these initiatives will play a pivotal role in maintaining the drug-free status of Great Nicobar, safeguarding its residents and visitors from the devastating impact of illicit drugs. It is a crucial step to ensure that this pristine haven remains unspoiled by the scourge of narcotics, protecting the well-being and future of the island and its residents.