Dindigul Superintendent of Police Jayakumar has warned that unlicensed resorts in the upper hill villages of Kodaikanal will be sealed immediately as part of efforts to curb the spread of narcotic substances.
The warning comes amid reports of increased use of high-end narcotic substances in Nattampatti, a hill village near Kodaikanal. In a surprise raid, the police arrested two persons at a private resort and seized narcotic substances from them.
Temporary accommodation facilities, including dome houses, A-frame structures and tents, have reportedly been set up on private agricultural land in more than 10 upper hill villages in Kodaikanal, including Mannavanur, Kilavarai, Palambuthur, Poombarai and Poondi. These structures, located on hilltops and slopes, are being rented out to tourists.
The growing popularity of these villages has reportedly drawn visitors away from Kodaikanal town, with tourist footfall increasing in the upper hill areas. Tourists from across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, have been visiting the region in large numbers.
The police received information that some of these camps, reportedly set up by people from Kerala, were being used for the consumption of narcotic substances.
Following instructions from the Superintendent of Police, police personnel, led by an Inspector, split into four teams and conducted checks at accommodation facilities in the upper hill villages.
During a search at a private resort in Nattampatti village, which falls under Poondi, the police found ganja, methamphetamine and LSD stamps.
The police seized ganja, 0.5 grams of methamphetamine and eight LSD stamps. Cases have also been registered against the landowner, the resort owner and others in connection with the incident.
The SP urged landowners who leased their properties for setting up resorts to ensure that the establishments obtained the necessary licences and did not engage in the sale of narcotic substances. Landowners who failed to monitor such activities could also face criminal action, he warned.
