Two Anti Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) teams have been constituted under the Tiruchi City Police in an effort to strengthen enforcement against narcotic smuggling. The ANTFs were constituted a few days ago following an announcement by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and issuance of a Government Order and a circular from the office of the Director-General of Police for the formation of such teams in each district and Commissionerate.
Each of the newly formed anti-narcotic team consists of six police personnel and has been entrusted with a set of mandated tasks and responsibilities. The Tiruchi City Police is headed by the Commissioner of Police with Deputy Commissioner for North and South.
Police sources said one of the ANTF teams has been entrusted with the task of covering the areas falling under north and another team would cover areas under south. Both teams will function under the direct supervision of the Commissioner of Police.
Having been picked from the Tiruchi City Police strength, personnel forming part of the two teams have been spared of other duties to enable them focus on the tasks specially assigned to them. The teams have commenced their task on the field since their formation a few days ago, the sources said. At present, each ANTF team is headed by a sub-inspector of police.
One of the major tasks entrusted with the teams is collection of intelligence pertaining to movement of narcotic substances and banned tobacco products within Tiruchi City limits and the offenders involved in such crimes. The Tiruchi City Police has under its jurisdiction 14 police stations.
The ANTF teams would carry out operations on receipt of inputs regarding movement of narcotics and other banned substances and initiate preventive action. As per the Government Order, the ANTFs have been empowered with prosecution powers and to regularly follow up on cases to ensure conviction. The sources said barring the officer heading the teams, the remaining personnel would be in plainclothes. The ANTF teams would have to maintain coordination with other departments in carrying out awareness drives.
The ANTFs would be specialised teams solely concentrating on anti-drug operations and for effective enforcement of laws connected with them, said the sources. Movement of ganja and banned tobacco substances have been reported in Tiruchi City limits if the number of seizures and the arrest of accused made by the police are any indication.
The sources said about 93 kg of ganja was seized within Tiruchi City limits between January and December in 2025 with the number of NDPS Act cases booked being 188. Over 200 accused were arrested during this period. Similarly, the quantity of banned tobacco substances seized within the city limits in 2025 was a little over 1,700 kg with the number of cases registered under The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act being 422. The police had arrested 436 accused last year under the COTPA Act. Cases of seizures of banned tobacco substances have been reported elsewhere in the district under the Tiruchi Rural Police limits.
The sources said production, movement, storage and sale of tobacco products are banned in Tamil Nadu. The smuggling of this contraband into Tamil Nadu is from Karnataka and other States, the sources said.