Kerala News: Ten students on a school trip in Kerala accidentally walked into the office of the Narcotics Department while trying to find a matchbox to light a beedi rolled with ganja. The group, consisting of students from a government-aided school in Thrissur, was visiting Munnar when the incident took place in Adimaly.

The students, part of a larger group of 100, had stopped at a hotel for food. A few of them sneaked out and entered the Narcotics office through a back door, believing it to be a workshop. Circle Inspector Raghesh B. explained, “They asked the officers, who were resting, for a matchbox. It was only when they noticed the officials in uniform that they realised their mistake.”

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Realising their mistake, the students tried to flee but were immediately apprehended by the officers. During a search operation, officials found that some of the minors had pooled their pocket money to purchase ganja from a local peddler. Officers seized five grams of marijuana and one gram of hashish oil from two of the students, along with items used for preparing these substances.

The higher secondary students were caught red-handed with the banned items. A case has been registered against the two minors from whom the drugs were confiscated. Following the incident, all students were counselled by the excise officers. While the majority were allowed to return with their teachers, the two students found with the contraband had their parents summoned for further discussion.

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A senior excise officer stated that drug abuse is a growing concern during school excursions in the state. “In this case, the students had pooled their money to buy the substance,” he mentioned.

Legal action will be initiated against the two students under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Their case will be managed by the Juvenile Justice Board. The remaining students, who admitted to trying ganja for the first time, received counselling before being sent home.