Anushka Sharma –
Published On: October 14, 2021 at 11:01 IST
The Gujarat government announced a substantial reward system on October 13 to combat the drug problem, under which informants, whether government personnel or private citizens, will be paid up to 20% of the recovered value of illicit narcotics substances.
Gujarat has emerged as an entrance point for drugs transported from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran as a result of its extensive coastline.
Last month, 2,988.21 kg of heroin, having a market value of Rs. 21,000 crore, was seized from the Mundra Port in Kutch district.
Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi told reporters, “The reward for informers on whose tip narcotics are seized, be it from any government department or from public, will be up to 20 per cent of the value of seized drugs which are listed under the NDPS Act.”
According to Sanghavi, the prize sum will be determined by relevant state authorities as ex-gratia.
According to him, the maximum amount that may be paid to individual personnel or officers during their entire service tenure will be Rs. 20 lakh, while the maximum amount that can be paid to individual personnel or officers in a single case will be Rs. 2 lakh.
If government employees participated in the contraband seizure as part of their job, they will not be rewarded. According to the scheme’s guidelines, only those who have taken extra risks will be rewarded.
He further urged that our society will be weakened by the drug problem, so it is critical for youths to stay away from it. Drugs may provide a short high, but they inflict lasting damage to our bodies in the long run. If they know where drugs are being peddled, youths should notify the police and the state home department.