Kerala has become a hub for narcotic drugs, and the situation is such that they are being delivered to those addicted to drugs in a matter of minutes, V.D. Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition, said here on Thursday.

Things have reached such an alarming level that the drug mafia has a free run in the State. In this situation, the government must take proactive steps to ensure that severe punishment is meted out to drug peddlers, he said and compared drugs to the deadly ‘bunker buster bombs’, having the potential to even destroy families. Instances of even parents being murdered by children are proof of the danger posed by drugs, he added. Mr. Satheesan was inaugurating a public meeting held at the Pastoral Orientation Centre, Palarivattom, as part of the annual State conference of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council’s Madya Virudha Samithi.

The Opposition leader said that the State government had done little to combat drugs, despite the cooperation extended by the Opposition. Rather than merely focusing on peddlers and hosting ‘awareness programmes’, the government agencies concerned must be able to identify the sources of drugs, he said.

The awards for the best anti-drug campaigns were given to the Archdiocese of Varapuzha and the Archdiocese of Mananthavady.