CM Joseph Vijay leads mass pledge for drug-free Tamil Nadu, honours anti-narcotics police

PRESS RELEASE Under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru S. Joseph Vijay, a state-level mass pledge for "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" was administered, the "Drug and Tobacco-Free Campus" awareness campaign was launched, and awards were presented to police officers and personnel who rendered outstanding service in eliminating drug production and illicit trafficking Under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru S. Joseph Vijay, at an event organised by the Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, held today (11.8.2026) at the Chennai State College campus, a state-level mass pledge for "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" was administered. Thereafter, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu launched the "Drug and Tobacco-Free Campus" awareness campaign in schools and colleges, viewed via video conference the destruction of seized drugs and banned tobacco products, and presented the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Police Medals for Distinguished Service in Drug Production and Illicit Trafficking Elimination for the year 2026 to police officers and personnel who rendered outstanding service in eliminating drug production and illicit trafficking. He also presented prizes to the top 3 anti-drug forums and top 3 volunteer groups from schools and colleges that carried out outstanding awareness work to reduce drug use. "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" — State-level mass pledge The Government of Tamil Nadu has been pursuing a zero-tolerance, resolute approach against drugs and banned tobacco products. Moving beyond the conventional police-centric approach, it has adopted a new multi-stakeholder "whole-of-government, whole-of-society" framework. In this regard, today, under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a state-level mass pledge for "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" was administered. 2,000 students participated in person, and more than 50,000 students took the pledge via video conference along with District Collectors across 37 districts. In addition, students and teachers took the pledge at their respective educational institutions. Along with them, parents of students, workers, women's self-help groups, doctors, persons undergoing treatment at drug de-addiction centres, IT company employees and other members of the public took the anti-drug pledge in large numbers. Changing patterns of drug trafficking and the resulting threats The increase in inter-state drug trafficking routes and the rising number of users have emerged as a major social challenge. Ganja is being smuggled through national highways, long-distance trains and coastal villages from states such as Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The misuse of synthetic drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and painkiller tablets is increasing among urban youth and hostel students. Trafficking gangs are employing new tactics such as packaging drugs as candy and using encrypted messaging apps. Robust police enforcement and seizures Intensive surveillance and raids are being conducted under the NDPS Act, 1985. From May 2026 to July 2026, 3,116 NDPS cases were registered, 4,138 offenders were arrested, and 4,201 kg of ganja and other drugs, as well as 1.12 lakh tablets, were seized. During this period, 222 offenders were arrested as drug offenders under the Goondas Act. Strengthened Anti-Narcotics Task Force To completely dismantle drug networks, a total of 65 Anti-Narcotics Task Force units have been created — 37 units in districts and 28 units in 9 police commissionerates. For this, the Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned funds of Rs.264.14 crore and issued orders through G.O. (Ms) No. 49, Home, Prohibition and Excise (XVI) Department, dated 8.08.2026. For this Anti-Narcotics Task Force, approval was granted for a total of 2,079 posts — one Additional Director General of Police, one Inspector General of Police, two Superintendents of Police, 15 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 79 Inspectors of Police, 325 Sub-Inspectors of Police, 1,625 other police personnel posts, and 31 ministerial staff — of which 2,017 posts have been newly created. Freezing of bank accounts and assets Investigating the illegal financial networks generated through drug trafficking, 158 bank accounts were frozen between May 2026 and July 2026. Integrated measures to control tobacco use The Government of Tamil Nadu has been taking stringent action against banned tobacco products such as gutkha and pan masala. From May 2026 to July 2026, 5,528 cases were registered and 77,438 kg of banned tobacco products were seized. Special surveillance is conducted within a 100-metre radius of schools and colleges, and immediate legal action has been taken on 78 major violations detected. Participation of school and college students and youth in reducing drug use About 17,000 anti-drug forums are functioning in schools and colleges. The '10581' helpline number has been displayed for awareness, and provision has also been made to report confidential information through the 'Drug-Free Tamil Nadu' app. Rs.7 crore has been allocated for school-level activities in this regard, as announced in the Budget. Under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the "Start Run, Stop Drugs" anti-drug awareness run was held on Marina Beach, Chennai, on 26.6.2026. Further, an 'Integrated Youth Development Programme' has been launched, integrating the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS), converting educational campuses into drug-free zones. By integrating law enforcement, awareness, youth participation, financial assistance and rehabilitation, the Government of Tamil Nadu remains firmly committed to building a vibrant, drug-free Tamil Nadu. Treatment, rehabilitation and psychological support Persons affected by drug addiction are being given compassionate rehabilitation. Further, a 'Rehabilitation Fund' of Rs.70 crore has been announced in the Budget, and free de-addiction treatment and vocational training are being provided through 28 special de-addiction centres. "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" event At the "Drug-Free Tamil Nadu" event held at Chennai State College, in the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu via video conference, destruction of about 8,800 kg of seized drugs and 64,000 kg of banned tobacco products was carried out at four locations — Chengalpattu, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Thanjavur. Following this, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu presented the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Police Medals for Distinguished Service in Drug Production and Illicit Trafficking Elimination for the year 2026 to 15 police officers and personnel who rendered outstanding service in eliminating drug production and illicit trafficking. The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also presented bank demand drafts, certificates of appreciation and trophies — Rs.1 lakh for first prize, Rs.75,000 for second prize, and Rs.50,000 for third prize — to the top three selected anti-drug forums and top three selected volunteer groups from schools and colleges that carried out outstanding awareness activities to reduce drug use. The event was attended by Chief Secretary Dr. M. Vaikundam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Prohibition and Excise Department Dr. K. Manivasan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Higher Education Department Thiru Dheeraj Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of School Education Department Dr. B. Chandramohan, IAS, Director General of Police Thiru Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences Wing (Enforcement) Thiru K. Sankar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Chennai City, Dr. A. Amalraj, IPS, Chennai District Collector Tmt. S. Malathi Selvan, IAS, and other senior police and government officials. ••••••••••• Released by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9