193 Drug Reports Submitted via Udupi QR Code Initiative
By ETF Desk
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar confirmed that the district’s QR code initiative, aimed at curbing illicit drug trade, has received 193 reports of suspicious activity. The fingerprints collected from citizens via smartphone QR scans are now being used as actionable intelligence against drug circles.
The scheme, launched earlier this year, offers anonymity to whistleblowers who can quickly submit evidence of illegal drug stores, laboratories or distributors. Within the first quarter, over 5,000 unique scans were recorded, with the majority originating from the coastal belt and rural tea estates.
Armed with these reports, police say they plan to conduct targeted raids and dismantle several underground networks. “These numbers show that the public is actively participating in our anti-drug strategy,” Shankar stated. The initiative, funded by state grants, is expected to reduce drug-related crime by at least 15% in the next 12 months.