Telangana: Intensified anti-drug tests to be conducted on new year eve

These special teams comprise personnel from the TGANB, Prohibition and Excise Department and the local police. Two teams will carry a mouth swab drug test while the remaining 17 will be equipped with ABON (urine kit).

Hyderabad: Upcoming New Year eve festivities are to be closely scanned for drug abuse by the enforcement agencies. Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) , which has already formed 19 special teams, intends to have big gatherings on the radar and monitor them more closely.

These special teams comprise personnel from the TGANB, Prohibition and Excise Department and the local police. Two teams will carry a mouth swab drug test while the remaining 17 will be equipped with ABON (urine kit).

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The teams will be visiting pubs, bars, hotels and resorts where New Year events are scheduled. Sniffer dogs will also be used to identify drugs concealed in cars, parking places, escalators and other places, said a senior official of TGANB.

The bureau had already issued guidelines to the local law enforcement agencies to ensure the managements of pubs, bars and other recreational places submit the details of the music band members, and DJs.

“We have asked them to collect the details and history of the music band members and DJs and verify their antecedents. Those who have a history of drug abuse and any criminal cases should not be invited to perform,” said the official, adding the management should act as anti-drug soldiers and support the ‘drug free Telangana initiative’.

The TGANB activated its intelligence network and collected details of the persons who are planning to supply and use drugs in the parties. “Tools used to track social media communications are employed and special undercover teams are keeping a watch on the dark-web,” said the official.

The Telangana police said the management of pubs and bars should not serve liquor to customers who are below the age of 21 years. It is the responsibility of the management to check the age of the customers if they have any suspicion.

“Also, the pubs, hotels and bars management should not serve liquor to customers who are already heavily drunk. There is a provision in Section 36 (1) (f) of Excise Act that prohibits selling any intoxicant to a person who is drunk,” said the official.