For a nation, in the process of coming to grips with
adopting and adapting to the pangs of change, not every development on the path
to progress meets the mark of desirability. So it is that the country is set on
a path to advancement in all fields, but so have fringe elements that present
themselves as side effects.
The current state of affairs created by the issue of drug
trafficking and drug abusers is call for a nationwide cause for alarm, especially
because the rapidly increasing young population is majorly affected by it.
Close to 600 people were arrested by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) as
of May this year. For a population that is majority youth, the situation is
definitely angling at the future of the nation (the youth) and not really in a
positive light.
Students (89) and youth (323) mostly under the age of 25 figures into
the number declared above. In this, some of those arrested (44) were under the
age of 18.
The law takes its course and does what the law does. People get arrested,
they are imprisoned for long and shot terms. In the case above 123 of the
convicted were imprisoned, 258 of the convicted made payment in lieu of
imprisonment (thrim thue), some (79) have made bail while only as few as three
were acquitted.
More arrests are taking place every now and then, people are still
being caught at check points and during surprise inspections. All this is in
motion in the back drop of stringent provisions in the acts and laws concerning
narcotic acts.
Harsher laws are being proposed in parliamentary discussion and have
been discussed in many sessions. Perhaps it is to be considered that a different
approach, one that is inclusive of every category of the citizenry could be adopted
– a public awareness exercise that can act as a deterrent to the prevalent
practices by peddlers seeking to make a profit, the customers or clients for
these smugglers who are entering the world of drug addiction deeper by their
every next fix, whiff or dose.
On the part of authorities, the narcotics control agency (BNCA),
schools (educational bodies) and related ministries have teamed up to battle
this spreading ill in society. In this parents can play a most crucial part to include
guidance and education to their children on this topic. It will go a long way
as messages may not make it to every home as effectively as they will be when made
part of a family heart-to-heart session.
If there ever was a time to put fluid words into visible action, now
is a good time to execute them all. With drug pushers, peddlers and experienced
dealers (repeat offenders) not wanting to let go of the taste of money they
have had in this illicit venture, it is more and more becoming the imminent
threat to future of youths and collectively the nation’s fate.
If the police have expanded their perimeter of surveillance through means
of personnel and informants in and out of the country at borders and check
points, then drug traffickers have up scaled their area of operations to enter
deeper into neighboring Indian states (Siliguri).
In an RBP event in the capital, the police chief had vouched
to put an end to drug traffickers who plan to make money out of a business that
has very negative consequences to society at large. Thus far, words have never
failed to turn into actions.
As citizens it is high time everyone pitches in.
Published as Business Bhutan Editorial on August 23, 2014
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