TN CM Stalin urges 'strong collaboration and information sharing' among southern states over drug menace, cybercrimes

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday pushed for “stronger collaboration” and “information sharing” among Southern states to collectively address the challenges of drug menace, illicit liquor, and cybercrimes.

Stalin also said that the five states in the region should work in coordination with each other to curb rumours on social media, which has now become an integral part of policing.

Addressing the Southern States Police Coordination Conference, Stalin said that his government and the police are handling the issue of the eradication of narcotic drugs with utmost seriousness and listed the steps taken by them to reduce the supply, transportation, and sale of narcotic drugs.

A two-pronged approach – confiscation of properties and freezing of bank accounts of the culprits and regular awareness campaigns – is being adopted by the state government, Stalin said, adding the linkages and assets of narcotic offenders have spread over several states.

“This requires coordinated efforts, and we have gathered here to work in this direction. I seek your cooperation and assistance to the Tamil Nadu Police to arrest the accused and continue the investigation in other states,” the Chief Minister added.

Talking about the recent arrest of a notorious inter-state ATM burglary gang in Namakkal district after it escaped from Kerala, Stalin said a probe revealed that this gang had committed similar offences in several other states, and the Tamil Nadu Police immediately alerted the concerned states.

Identifying illegal blending units that use rectified spirit smuggled from other states to manufacture illicit liquor as a “serious threat”, the Chief Minister said there was an “urgent need” for strict checks at state borders to prevent the entry of these harmful substances.

Cybercrime is an emerging and complex challenge, thriving across multiple jurisdictions and exploiting loopholes in legal procedures, Stalin said, adding that in 2023 alone, 1,390 accused in such cases belonged to other states, and many were arrested from outside Tamil Nadu, highlighting that coordinated efforts are necessary.

“The problem of cyber slavery—where educated youth seeking jobs abroad are lured into exploitation—has grown into a serious issue. Many of our youth suffer both mental and physical torture at the hands of criminals based in some South-East Asian countries. We shall strengthen coordination among us to combat such emerging threats,” he said.

Talking about provocative and inciting content posted on social media posing a threat to the maintenance of law and order in states, Stalin explained how the government efforts to prevent panicked migrant workers from travelling back to their native towns in 2023 after a rumour that they were being attacked in the state.

“With strong coordination and sharing of information, let us tackle various challenges, including public peace and internal security and ensure the safety of all our people. By fostering stronger collaboration and information sharing, we can collectively address these challenges and enhance security for all our citizens,” the CM added.