Tamil Nadu Approves Rs 264 Crore, 1,600 Personnel For Anti-Narcotics Force

The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹264 crore to establish 65 dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force police stations across the state. According to a Government Order issued on August 8, the specialised units will focus exclusively on narcotics-related offences as the administration intensifies its campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

Of the sanctioned amount, approximately ₹245.99 crore has been allocated for recurring expenditure, while the remainder will cover non-recurring costs. Thirty-seven task-force stations will serve individual districts, and 28 will operate within police districts under nine city commissionerates. Chennai will receive 12 units, while Avadi, Tambaram, Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli will receive two each.

Every field unit will include one inspector, four sub-inspectors and 20 other police personnel. The government has consequently sanctioned 65 inspector posts, 260 sub-inspector posts and 1,300 additional police positions. The order expressly prohibits authorities from assigning task-force personnel to duties unrelated to anti-narcotics operations, ensuring that the units remain focused on their specialised responsibilities.

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The statewide force will operate under an Additional Director General of Police and have a dedicated headquarters staffed by 454 personnel. Ten specialised wings will handle operations, intelligence, cybercrime, investigations, crime records, training, legal matters, information technology and administration. A cyber laboratory will also be established, with two experts appointed on contract at a monthly salary of ₹1 lakh each.

The units will collect intelligence about narcotics movement, conduct online surveillance and register and investigate drug-related cases. They will also undertake financial investigations to trace and freeze movable and immovable assets linked to trafficking networks. The government has sanctioned 67 four-wheelers and 325 two-wheelers for the force, while other departments will support rehabilitation, awareness campaigns and measures to reduce drug dependence.

The initiative follows Chief Minister Vijay’s election promise to work towards a “Drug-Free Tamil Nadu.” After his government took office in May, he instructed district collectors, police superintendents and senior officials to strengthen action against drugs, organised crime and illegal sand mining. He also called for closer surveillance around schools, regular inspections, prompt arrests and greater attention to the underlying causes of crime and addiction.

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