Dimapur, February 20 (MExN): The Excise Department has launched an appeal to churches, NGOs, recovering addicts, families of drug abusers, and the public for information and intelligence on the illicit drug trade. Among other things, it sought details on suspected peddlers and suppliers involved in narcotics trafficking as part of its ongoing anti-drug campaign.
The department assures complete confidentiality and protection of identity for anyone sharing information, stated a press release issued by S Phyobemo Kikon, Joint Commissioner of Excise (NC), Nagaland.
According to the release, anyone with reliable information can email it to narcotic.cell.excise@gmail.com or contact the Joint Commissioner (Narcotic Cell) Excise at 9436077829; the Superintendent (Narcotic Cell) Excise at 9862658448; or the Inspector (Narcotic Cell) Excise at 9774316327.
Meanwhile, the Excise Department also appealed to the government for increased support, requesting additional personnel, modern infrastructure and facilities, and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance their efficiency in combating drug trafficking.
The department issued a stern warning that possession, sale, purchase, use, consumption, transport, import, and export of illicit drugs are serious offences under Section 8 of the NDPS Act. It further emphasised that these offences can attract stringent penalties, including the death penalty for certain offences under Section 31A of the NDPS Act upon conviction.
The department also ‘strictly warned’ that any possession, sale, purchase, use, consumption, transport, import, and export of illicit drugs are serious offences under Section 8 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Conviction attracts stringent penalties, including the death penalty for certain offences under Section 31A of the NDPS Act, it added.
