Sikkim DGP vows to intensify fight against drugs, calls for united effort

Sikkim Police is stepping up its efforts to fight the growing menace of drugs in the state. Director General of Police (DGP) Akshay Sachdeva said the police force is working with full dedication and strength to tackle the drug problem. 

He said the state police is at the forefront of this war and will continue to act strictly against drug peddlers and users alike.

DGP Sachdeva said that the police register around 100 drug-related cases every year, across different police stations in the state. He explained that 70% of these cases fall under the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act, while the remaining 30% are registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The police chief pointed out that officers are even reaching remote villages and bastis where illegal cannabis is being cultivated. “We are working closely with local panchayats to destroy these illegal plants,” he said. He stressed that this drive is one of the topmost priorities for the department.

Importantly, DGP Sachdeva mentioned that the police is also cleaning up its own house. There have been incidents where some police personnel were caught either using drugs or helping drug smugglers. “In the last four years, six such cases have been registered against our own staff,” he said. “Strict action has been taken and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards this.”

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He added that Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has given clear instructions to all departments to have strict internal rules to prevent drug abuse among their employees. The police department, he assured, will fully follow these directions and further strengthen its internal system.

Talking about students and educational institutions, the DGP explained that the police regularly patrols areas outside schools, colleges, and universities to catch drug peddlers. However, he said that the police cannot enter campuses without permission from the principal or authorities unless there is a law-and-order issue. “Inside school campuses, it is the responsibility of the administration to identify students who may be using drugs,” he said.

He suggested that schools and colleges should have trained counsellors to help students who might be struggling with addiction. “The aim is not to punish them but to help them recover. The goal is reform, rehabilitation, and detoxification,” he explained. He also praised the Chief Minister’s directions to the Education Department for promoting counselling in schools.

When asked about the kinds of drugs being used in Sikkim, the DGP said that most of them are over-the-counter medicinal drugs like cough syrups (Fencidryl, Corex) and tablets such as Nitrozepam and Spasmoproxivam. He noted that many of these drugs are not produced in Sikkim but come from outside the state, across the border.

To prevent this, police stations at key entry points—like Rangpo, Malli, Naya Bazar, and Renok—are on high alert. Police teams in other areas such as Singtam, Ranipool, and Gangtok are also playing a crucial role in cracking down on smuggling routes.

DGP Sachdeva also raised concern over the increasing presence of brown sugar in recent years. He said this dangerous drug is also being brought in from across the border and poses a serious risk to the youth.

He said that the fight against drugs cannot be won by the police alone. “Panchayats, teachers, counsellors, government employees, and even the media—all have to work together,” he said. “If everyone shares a bit of the responsibility, we can definitely defeat this problem.”