Drug trafficking by defence personnel affects morale of our forces, says IAF Chief

As an Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Rajasekhar Reddy was recently arrested in connection with an international drug racket, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Saturday said incidents like these bring bad reputation to IAF, adding that stringent steps have been taken to prevent such things in future.

Briefing the media on the 84th foundation day of the IAF at Air Force Station Hindon in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, Air Chief Marshal Raha said, "A commissioned officers was involved in drug trafficking and these incidents affect the morale of the armed forces.

"We should have detected ourselves, much before it came to this shape. So, we we are investigating deep into the entire matter and we are taking lot of steps to prevent such things," he added.

The IAF Chief further said as these incidents bring bad reputation and affect the morale of the Air Force or armed forces, they are very concerned about it and were taking lot of steps to prevent them.

"I think the immediate seniors need to take more care and greater ownership of their subordinates in professional growth or in terms of behaviour, disciple, etc, which we are trying to tighten further," he added.

Indian Air Force Wing Commander Rajasekhar Reddy and a Bengaluru-based scientist were arrested in connection with an international drug racket earlier this week.

Reddy was arrested from Nanded in Maharashtra last weekend, following raids in which drugs like ecstasy and 230 kg of amphetamine were seized. Mobile phones and Rs 7.5 lakh cash were also seized from his possession.

Reddy, who was posted at the Air Headquarters in Delhi, was under scanner of the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Indian Air Force.

Amphetamine is reportedly manufactured at a factory in Hyderabad from where it was trafficked to Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.