Madikeri: Kodagu district has witnessed a surge in drug-related cases, with police registering 63 cases of drug peddling and consumption under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Jan this year alone.Superintendent of police RN Bindu Mani said that while 153 NDPS cases were registered in the district between Jan and Dec 2025, more than 60 cases were booked within the first month of 2026. Over 2.6kg of marijuana was seized in Jan, and around 60 people were booked during the period.According to police, nine people were arrested for drug peddling, while 53 residents were booked for consumption of narcotics under the NDPS Act in Jan 2026. Most cases involved marijuana, though police had also detected MDMA and other synthetic drug peddling cases in the district last year.Police have launched a special drive to identify and curb local marijuana peddlers and are also working on plans to track key drug suppliers operating from neighbouring districts, the SP said.Meanwhile, the police department has intensified awareness campaigns across schools and colleges to prevent drug abuse, particularly among students. Meetings have been held with school managements and staff to address drug consumption and peddling within educational institutions.Recently, Virajpet police conducted a meeting with management representatives of educational institutions in the subdivision as part of a district-wide drive against drug abuse.
