Chennai, Aug 11:
The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹264.14 crore to establish a statewide Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), with dedicated units planned across all districts and police commissioners to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and organised narcotics networks.
The ANTF will have 65 units — 37 units covering each revenue district and 28 units across nine city police commissionerates. Chennai will have 12 units, while Avadi, Tambaram, Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tirunelveli will have two units each.
The force will be headed by an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), assisted by an Inspector General of Police and three Superintendents of Police. Its operational strength will include 65 Inspectors, 130 Sub-Inspectors and 325 police personnel.
An ANTF headquarters with 10 specialised divisions and 454 sanctioned posts will oversee intelligence gathering, cyber investigations, legal support, special operations, crime records, field intelligence, training, administration, information technology and a round-the-clock control room.
The task force will focus on tracking the movement of narcotics, conducting cyber-surveillance and financial investigations, gathering field intelligence and registering cases against those involved in drug-related offences.
The government order said the jurisdiction of ANTF police stations will be notified separately.
A dedicated cyber lab will also be established to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve the quality of investigations and enhance conviction rates.
A 24×7 control room will coordinate information and emergency responses through the toll-free number 10581, WhatsApp 94984 10581 and the Drug Free Tamil Nadu app.
The government described the initiative as a major investment towards creating a future-ready anti-narcotics enforcement system in Tamil Nadu.