Be 'ruthless' against drug traffickers: Home minister to anti-narcotics agencie

181% rise in registration of drugs cases, 145% in seizures

PTI, 19 April 2023: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said anti-narcotics agencies should be "ruthless" in dealing with drug traffickers and cartels, stressing that they are the main culprits and those consuming drugs their "victims". 

Citing the ill-effects of drugs on the youth as well as the country's economy and security, he asked all states to work in close coordination and join the battle against the menace with "a whole-of-government" and "Team India" approach, keeping aside their political differences. 

Addressing the first conference of the heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces of states and Union territories, Shah said the ministry of home affairs, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set a target to create a drug-free India by 2047 when the country attains 100th year of independence. 

"Drug traders are the main culprits as the drug consumers are the victims. We have to take a ruthless approach against the drug traders and the strongest possible action should be taken against them," he said. 

The home minister said the Narendra Modi government is committed to eradicating the menace of drugs and a "whole of government" approach should be taken against it as it can destroy the future generations, he said. 

"Narcotics not only make the young generation hollow, but along with this, there are many bad effects on the country's economy as well. Simultaneously, through narco-terror, through smuggling of narcotics, the security of the country's border can be breached.... If the 130 crore Indians fight it together, we will win this battle," he said.

Agencies: The registration of criminal cases against drug traffickers and cartels in the country rose by 181 per cent during the nine years of the Modi government compared to eight years immediately before that, according to official data released on Wednesday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

"The Modi government's multi-dimensional efforts led to an increase of around 145 per cent in the seizure of narcotics and 181 per cent more cases have been registered by the NCB against those involved in this business," Shah said. 

He also stressed that a "ruthless approach" should be undertaken by anti-narcotics agencies against drug syndicates to eradicate this menace from the country. 

The Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in 2014. According to the data for 2014-22 (provisional data for 2022), 3,544 cases were registered by the federal anti-narcotics agency NCB in which 3,408 people were arrested. 

As much as 3,73,495 kgs of drugs was seized during this nine year period and the value of the drugs seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) stood at Rs 22,000 crore, about 30 times more than the eight years before the Modi government came to power, according to the data. 

The comparative data for 2006-13 stood at 1,257 cases, 1,363 arrests and seizure of 1,52,206 kgs of drugs carrying a total value of Rs 768 crore. 

Another set of data compiled by the NCB stated that all the anti-drugs enforcement agencies of the country disposed of 5,94,620 kgs of drugs worth Rs 8,409 crore between June 2022 to March 24, 2023.