Himachal: More than 2 lakh narcotic pills were sold

Himachal Pradesh: A joint operation in Chamba district has exposed the illegal sale of nearly 2 lakh narcotic and psychotropic tablets without proper documentation in the last 18 months. The operation involved drug inspectors from Chamba and adjoining districts, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the CID and the district police. Surprise checks were conducted at over 15 private medical stores and three pharmacy outlets on the government hospital premises last week. The raids revealed significant discrepancies in purchase and sale records of Schedule H1 and narcotic drugs. A large quantity of unrecorded drugs was seized during the operation. The officials seized sales bills, purchase records and registers related to narcotics for further investigation. At a pharmacy outlet in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College in Chamba, investigators found mismatched records and suspiciously rewritten prescriptions, which are now being investigated. Ten medical store operators have been served notices to produce their complete records. Failure to comply will lead to legal action. The findings of the investigation will be sent to the CID headquarters and the State Drugs Controller for further action. The local police have stepped up surveillance at checkpoints and entry points in Chamba district to monitor vehicles suspected of transporting drugs. The police are also collaborating with drug control officials to share intelligence and strengthen preventive measures. Assistant Drugs Controller, Dharamshala, Nishant Sareen said it was the first joint raid of its kind in the region, with multiple departments working together to combat drug abuse. He confirmed that bills of purchase and sale, schedule registers and other records have been seized and are being examined. Chief Medical Officer, Chamba, Dr Bipen Thakur stressed the importance of maintaining detailed records for sale of narcotic pills. He termed the sale of 2 lakh unrecorded pills as a serious violation of rules and stressed the urgent need for strict monitoring and compliance. The action highlights the growing menace of unregulated drug sales and the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing it.