The police have stepped up surveillance of inter-State bus drivers and ambulance operators following complaints that some personnel may have been consuming or transporting synthetic drugs while on duty. The move follows recent complaints from passengers who alerted the police after observing behaviour they suspected could be linked to drug use among some bus crew members.

According to police sources, the recent rise in cases involving synthetic drug use among some transport workers has raised concerns about passenger safety.

A senior police officer said the ongoing special drive under ‘Operation Toofan’ was part of a multi-layered action plan aimed at ensuring long-term public safety. “Sector-wise interventions, including the latest one targeting drivers, will continue under a result-oriented action plan,” he added.

Enhanced drug screening for drivers on duty will form the core of the action plan. Tip-offs from bus passengers will receive immediate attention. Joint enforcement squads comprising officials from the Motor Vehicles department (MVD), Excise, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will assist the police in the mission.

In the case of ambulance operators, police said the issue was of particular concern given the critical nature of the service. Multiple reports, including those compiled by the Active Networked Group of Emergency Life Savers (ANGELS), have previously flagged suspected drug use among some ambulance drivers.

A medical practitioner, formerly associated with ANGELS, stated that comprehensive reports and action plans submitted to the government in the past failed to elicit an immediate response, attributing the delay to a general lack of awareness regarding the worsening situation on the ground.

“Emergency vehicle operators cannot afford a casual approach to their profession as they are the first responders in life-or-death situations. Their drift toward substance abuse derails the very purpose of the service,” said an emergency medical technician attached to a private medical college hospital in Kozhikode. He emphasized that individuals with a history of substance abuse must be permanently barred from the field through rigorous screening protocols to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Kunnel, an ambulace driver from Kayakkodi said the majority of drivers in their field have been found working professionally with responsibility. Just like any other groups, a few are there among drivers too which could not be always highlighted to downgrade the service of committed operstors, he added.