Chandigarh :30th July: Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah addressed the National Conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ in Chandigarh today.
In 2014, when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the Government adopted the policy of zero tolerance against drugs and gradually by removing shortcomings in the system, it has made the fight against drugs impenetrable and a fast-paced battle.
He said that today for the first time after Independence, with a clear direction and fast pace, we have been able to carry forward the fight against drugs, its results are also being seen.
Drugs have an adverse effect on the security of the individual, society, economy and country, that is why it is necessary to uproot them with firmness.
No healthy, prosperous, capable and safe nation can achieve its goals without adopting a zero tolerance policy against drug trafficking.
Drugs smuggling and their spread are very dangerous for any society, when drug smuggling spreads it hollows out generations.
In the fight against drugs, the Ministry of Home Affairs has gone ahead with a multi-pronged approach, has undertaken several administrative reforms and also developed new methods and has taken a pro-active approach to engage the States.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also created a coordination mechanism in which that there should be no loophole anywhere till the district through NCORD.
Nearly 200 percent more cases have been registered in the last 8 years between 2014-2022 as compared to 2006-2013, a 260 percent increase in the number of arrests.
The quantity of drugs seized has more than doubled, between 2006 and 2013, 1.52 lakh kg of drugs were seized, while between 2014 and 2022, 3.3 lakh kg of drugs were seized.
From 2006 to 2013, drugs worth Rs. 768 crore were caught, while between 2014 and 2021, the Government of India has run a campaign to capture and destroy drugs worth Rs. 20 thousand crore.
The Union Home Minister said that from June to August 15, a 75-day drug eradication campaign is in progress and today we have destroyed about 31,000 kg of drugs in four cities.
At the end of the 75-day campaign on August 15, the quantity will reach one lakh kg with an estimated black market value of around Rs. 3,000 crore.
Today the NCORD portal has also been launched. From this portal all agencies across the country will not only be able to get information but it will also be able to exchange best practices of NCORD.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a three tier formula for strengthening the institutional structure, empowerment and coordination of all narco agencies, comprehensive awareness campaigns and de-addiction
21 States have also constituted Anti Narcotics Task Forces
To prevent misuse of dual-use drugs, a permanent inter-ministerial committee has been formed with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Chemicals under the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
There is a need to act quickly to curb drugs and the dark net, both dark web and cryptocurrency trading are intertwined, the Home Ministry recently constituted a task force on the dark web and cryptocurrencies
An agreement has been signed between NCB and National Forensic Science University, under which the National Forensic Science University and NCB will provide guidance in establishing a modern forensic lab in any State
The drug problem is greater in Punjab as it is a border state, therefore more effort will have to be made, we will also set up a forensic lab in Amritsar as well as open a center of the NCB which will provide training
Amit Shah said the Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with Punjab in the fight against drugs, to free the youth of Punjab from drugs and we are with Punjab in whatever the State requires.
The Union Home Minister assured that the Government of India will provide strong support to Punjab’s anti-drug fight under the leadership of Narendra Modi.
We have identified 272 districts and more than 80,000 villages, we are clear where we have to fight this battle, every person, every agency should take up this fight strongly in their respective areas
Government of India has entered into separate MoUs on narcotics with 44 countries and exchange of information has taken place.
Amit Shah said he has great expectations from the States, the Central Government alone cannot fight this battle, the State’s battle is more than that of the center, only then will results be seen and a State cannot fight alone, we all together have to carry this fight forward.
Even in case of large seizure of drugs, the Union Home Minister requested the States not to make it a Center-State issue, wherever they feel this matter goes outside the State border, they should cooperate with NCB and NIA
In the year of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, Shri Narendra Modi has said that it is the Amrit Kal from the Amrit Mahotsav to the Centenary of Independence, Amit Shah made an appeal during the conference that everyone should make a pledge that the youth of India should be completely freed from drugs and will contribute to the creation of a prosperous and New India.
Report:Pawan Kumar
