New Year’s Eve: cops keep eye on pubs to check drug abuse

With the planning for New Year parties across the city underway, the police have started keeping an eye on popular bars and party venues, to curb drug abuse during the party season.

With the planning for New Year parties across the city underway, the police have started keeping an eye on popular bars and party venues, to curb drug abuse during the party season.

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The demand and supply of narcotics sees a sharp increase in this time of the year. The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai police Crime Branch has prepared a team of policemen, who will frequent discotheques and pubs, particularly more high-end ones, with a list of affluent clientele.

The special team has started interacting with locals and employees of these pubs and clubs to find out what these popular hangouts have on the cards for this New Year’s eve. The information will be scrutinized by senior officials from the crime branch.

“Our team has begun frequenting this places and mixing with the patrons. This is being done to identify potential drug peddlers, who could come from more affluent sections of society as well,” said Nisar Tamboli, deputy commissioner of police, ANC.

However, changing trends in drug supply and peddling will prove a challenge for ANC officials. Unlike the traditional method, wherein peddlers would get huge quantities of drugs – which was easy to spot – they have now stated to carry a small quantity with them, making it difficult for them to be caught.

“It’s true that the trend has posed challenges, but we will catch up with them soon,” said Tamboli. He further said police were focusing more on places frequented by affluent people, as they found drug use to be more rampant there.