With students turning into ‘cooks’ and traffickers and legal loopholes letting offenders walk free, the state stands on the edge of a disaster.
Published Mar 03, 2025 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 16, 2025 | 6:10 PM
Drug abuse. Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The recent spurt in crime by youths against their family members and friends has triggered a debate — once again — on the use of banned substances. If drugs were earlier sourced from outside Kerala, a new breed, called ‘cooks’ have emerged, making synthetic drugs with information gathered from the internet. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, point at the legal loopholes that help those caught in narcotics cases wriggle free and hit the drug trail again.
When a society reaches a point where parents fear their children and teachers approach students with trepidation, it signals a crisis far deeper than statistics can reveal.
In Kerala, the shadow of drug abuse has crept into classrooms, homes, and streets, turning the state’s celebrated youth power into a ticking time bomb.
From petty offenses to brutal crimes, police records tell a chilling tale — many of the accused were under the influence, their actions dictated by addiction rather than conscience.
The drug mafia, with its ruthless grip, has found its prime targets in the young, exploiting their vulnerabilities and pushing them into a spiral of destruction.
They are turning the state’s future torchbearers into mere pawns in their trade.
Kerala, long celebrated for its high literacy and progressive values, is now battling an insidious enemy that preys on its youth. The grip of the drug menace is no longer a distant threat — it is an unsettling, Kafkaesque reality.
As voices grow louder against this escalating menace, one thing is clear: unless society acts now, an entire generation risks being lost to the abyss of addiction.
They aren’t chefs, but they are experimenting with combinations. Instead of familiar ingredients and condiments, they mix chemicals and solvents. Their goal isn’t a delicious meal — it’s a powerful high.
Drugs
In a troubling shift, Kerala is witnessing the rise of young “cooks”— amateur chemists who are learning to manufacture synthetic drugs using information available online.
Unlike the traditional narcotics trade, which relied on smuggling networks operating through ports and airports, this new generation of drug-makers is producing synthetic drugs at locations and times of their convenience.
On 24 February, Kallambalam police arrested a key player in a drug racket smuggling narcotics from Bengaluru into Kerala. As part of the crackdown, the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) apprehended two individuals from Varkala — Deepu and Anjana Krishna — who were caught attempting to transport drugs.
However, officers say that smuggling is no longer the only concern. “Now, synthetic drug production is happening locally,” a DANSAF member from Ernakulam told South First. “Youngsters are learning to prepare these substances using online resources. And they are known as ‘cooks’. Stopping this trend is becoming an enormous challenge.”
The reasons behind this shift are complex. Police officers said financial desperation, peer influence, and a fascination have made synthetic drug production an attractive option for some young people.
Unlike smuggling, which requires extensive networks and risk-taking, synthetic drug production can be done in secrecy with minimal investment.
“Many of these young people think they are just experimenting,” a police officer said.
“But they don’t realise that they are creating highly addictive, dangerous substances that can destroy lives — including their own,” he added.
An alarming trend is emerging among youngsters, with many turning to psychoactive drugs, prescription painkillers, and MDMA-laced products for a quick high.
Though COTPA cases are showing a dip, drug related cases continues to spike
Experts warn that some youths misuse mephentermine sulfate, tramadol, and other psychotropic drugs, often experimenting with medicines found at home, unaware of their severe side effects.
Additionally, authorities are cracking down on MDMA-laced edibles, vaporisers, oils, and creams, which, with just a single rub, can induce hours-long effects.
Fathima Ashraf, a pharmacist at a private medical shop in Edappally, Kochi, told South First that some young customers even present fake prescriptions, though pharmacists can usually spot them.
“One day, a young boy asked for a morphine injection, a painkiller primarily used for cancer patients. We immediately denied his request as it seemed suspicious,” she recalled.
Adding to the concern, high school students frequently purchase eye drops to reduce redness caused by chemical substance use.
“When we confronted a group about this, they created a scene in the shop,” she said, highlighting the growing boldness of young drug users.
Kerala’s drug landscape, according to Excise officials, is shaped by a steady influx from various states — softer drugs frequently arriving from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. At the same time, synthetic substances flow in from Bengaluru, Goa, and Chennai.
Despite Bengaluru being a major hub for synthetic drugs entering Kerala, rural Karnataka remains relatively insulated, as noted by Krishna S, an education NGO worker from Idukki, now based in Kaup, Uduppi.
“In my village, Kulamavu, I’ve seen teenagers fall prey to synthetic drug dealers from Theni and Cumbum, losing interest in studies and aligning with rowdy gangs. But in Kaup, while financial struggles persist, children are far less exposed to such substances,” she observed.
Meanwhile, in Kochi, the underbelly of the drug trade thrives, with tourists often having better intel on hidden peddling spots than locals.
Afnan Salim (name changed), an Uber driver, revealed a disturbing truth: “There are spies within law enforcement. Reporting anything could backfire.”
Even within the Excise Department, an official admitted that political and bureaucratic interference often dictates the course of action.
“Arrests and seizures alone won’t solve this crisis. The key is dismantling the source, but higher-ups sometimes intervene, disrupting long-term crackdowns,” the official lamented.
Despite the alarming rise in drug-related crimes, legal and penal provisions remain inadequate to curb the menace — especially when it comes to synthetic drugs.
A glaring loophole in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, allows offenders caught with small quantities of drugs to easily secure bail, often enabling them to return to illicit trade without facing serious consequences.
Under the current framework, narcotics are classified into Small Quantity, Medium Quantity, and Commercial Quantity.
Possession of small quantities — despite its potential to fuel addiction and street-level peddling — is a bailable offense, giving traffickers an easy escape route. This has raised serious concerns among enforcement agencies, who argue that the law, in its present form, fails to act as a deterrent.
Recognising this gap, the state government stated that recommendations have been made to the Union Government to amend the NDPS Act and redefine quantity thresholds to prevent repeat offenders from gaming the system.
The proposed changes aim to close this critical loophole, ensuring that those involved in the drug trade—regardless of the quantity in their possession—face stricter legal consequences.
Dismissing concerns about a surge in drug abuse, the state government has asserted that there is no alarming increase in substance use, including among students.
Drugs seized
However, reaffirming its commitment to tackling the issue, the government emphasises that stringent measures are in place to curb drug abuse, trafficking, and distribution.
A multi-pronged approach — integrating enforcement, awareness, and rehabilitation — is being carried out, with the Excise Department leading crackdowns and the Vimukthi Mission spearheading awareness campaigns with active participation from all sections of society.
To strengthen institutional responses, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed, equipping teachers at both primary and secondary levels with clear guidelines on detecting, reporting, and addressing drug-related cases.
Special training sessions during the vacation period have ensured that educators are well-prepared to handle such situations effectively.
The government assures that drug abuse is being taken seriously, with proactive intervention in collaboration with the Home Department and other agencies.
The alarming rise in drug abuse and related crimes has set off alarm bells across Kerala, prompting urgent intervention from multiple agencies.
The State Human Rights Commission has called for immediate government action to curb the surge in violence and murders linked to substance abuse. The Chief Secretary has been directed to consult with key departments — Home, Education, Revenue, and Culture — to devise a comprehensive strategy.
Meanwhile, the State Child Rights Commission is launching a statewide study to examine why more children are getting involved in crimes and how drug influence plays a role.
A large-scale survey by the Excise Department, conducted with Student Police Cadets across 62,691 individuals, is set to reveal critical insights into the crisis.
An earlier study among 600 youngsters — all under 19 years and either caught in drug-related cases or seeking help at Vimukthi de-addiction centers — exposed disturbing patterns:
🔹 70% tried drugs for the first time between ages 10 and 15
🔹 20% started between 15 and 19
🔹 9% experimented before turning 10
Further findings show:
🔸 46% used drugs multiple times a day
🔸 35.16% turned to drugs for stress relief
🔸 79% got their first supply from friends, while 5% were introduced by family members
The battle over Kerala’s drug problem is no longer just a law enforcement issue — it has become a political flashpoint.
The Opposition has launched a scathing attack on the state government, accusing it of lax enforcement in tackling the state’s growing drug problem.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan told the media on 27 February, “When the opposition raised alarm over the rising drug abuse in Kerala, the Excise Minister’s dismissive response painted a troubling picture of denial. But the reality is stark — Kerala is in grave danger. The unchecked spread of drugs, from MDMA to other narcotics, has turned the state into a hotspot for substance abuse. Enforcement mechanisms have failed, and the much-hyped awareness programme Vimukthi has done little to curb the crisis.”
He further added, “Drugs are now easily accessible, fuelling a surge in violent crimes. The very nature of violence has shifted — brutal, unpredictable, and, worse, often covered up. Despite the opposition’s willingness to join hands in the fight against the drug mafia, the government remains indifferent, trapped in a cold and ineffective policy approach.”
He then sounded a word of caution: “If this apathy continues, Kerala could spiral into an unprecedented catastrophe. The state cannot afford to turn a blind eye any longer — crushing the drug mafia must be the top priority before it’s too late.”
However, earlier, when the Opposition raised the same allegations in the Assembly, Excise Minister MB Rajesh dismissed the allegations, asserting that Kerala was at the forefront of the nation’s fight against narcotics, boasting the highest conviction rates in drug-related cases.
According to him, drug abuse was a nationwide crisis, not exclusive to Kerala.
He argued that the Opposition was falsely portraying the state as a drug trafficking hub, despite robust enforcement efforts yielding significant results.
Backing his claims with official data, the Minister revealed that Kerala recorded 24,517 narcotics-related arrests in 2024 — the highest in the country.
In stark contrast, Punjab, often dubbed India’s “drug capital,” saw only 9,734 arrests. He also pointed out that although Kerala accounted for just ₹60 crore of the ₹16,000 crore worth of drugs seized across India in 2023 (as per Ministry of Home Affairs data), its enforcement agencies had remained relentless in their crackdown.
The state’s conviction rate in narcotics cases stood at an impressive 98.9 percent, far exceeding the national average of 78 percent.
Additionally, inspections near schools surged from 10,761 in 2023 to 32,846 the following year.
Responding to claims that Kerala had failed to track the origins of drug trafficking networks, Rajesh then cited a high-profile operation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where authorities intercepted narcotics worth ₹100 crore.
With the Opposition determined to make this a key electoral issue, the political heat over the state’s drug crisis is set to intensify.
For too long, Kerala dismissed its drug crisis as a distant threat.
But as the high court rightly observed recently —”We have been pushing it off, saying that in Kerala, it is not happening.”— the reality is now impossible to ignore.
With students turning into ‘cooks’ and traffickers and legal loopholes letting offenders walk free, the state stands on the edge of a disaster.
Blame games won’t save Kerala’s youth — only swift action, enforcement, tougher laws, and a united fight against this menace will.
The choice is clear: Act now or lose an entire generation to addiction.
(Edited by Majnu Babu.)
