Mangaluru Police Unveil QR-Code Portal for Anonymous Drug Abuse Reporting

Mangaluru: In a significant step towards curbing drug abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City Police launched a QR-code-based anonymous reporting portal on Thursday, aimed at enabling students, parents, and institutions to confidentially report instances of drug consumption and sale. The initiative was unveiled during a programme marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Addressing the gathering, Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy emphasized that the system allows users to report drug users, peddlers, and even peer pressure incidents, promising complete confidentiality and strict action.

Further strengthening the fight against narcotics, the Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign (ADAC) will closely monitor campuses and hostels for any suspicious activity. The ADAC plans to offer confidential counselling, encourage anonymous reports of drug abuse and peddling, and conduct surveys to identify awareness levels and risk zones. In collaboration with educational institutions and the Health Department, the campaign will also include random student screenings. Regular updates will be submitted to college authorities and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics), who will serve as the nodal officer. Commissioner Reddy noted that while anti-drug cells existed previously, this revamped mechanism will be reviewed after six months to gauge its effectiveness.