New Delhi:In a bid to further strengthen the coordination action against drug menace, Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in New Delhi on Saturday.
The conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), aims to address the growing concern of drug trafficking and its impact on national security, with special focus on eight states and Union Territories of northern India. The day-long conference will be attended by the Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers and senior officers from the eight participating states and UTs including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Shah to launch Drug Disposal Fortnight
During the event, Shah will launch the Drug Disposal Fortnight, inaugurate the new office complex of the NCB's Bhopal zonal unit and extension of the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories. A Home Ministry spokesperson said the conference will focus on the sharing of real-time information from the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ portal with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of States and Union Territories, evaluating the progress of States in combating drug trafficking, and assessing the effectiveness of the Narcotics Coordination Mechanism (NCORD).
Strengthening of SFSLs to be discussed
It will also address strengthening and enhancing the functionality of State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), utilizing the NIDAAN database to bolster efforts against drug trafficking, implementing provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, establishing special NDPS courts for the speedy trial of drug-related cases, and fostering a Whole-of-Government approach to ensure comprehensive collaboration among all agencies to combat drug trafficking and abuse effectively.
Narcotics worth over Rs 2,000 crore to be destroyed
The spokesperson said during the drug disposal fortnight from January 11 to 25, a total of 44,792 kilograms of seized narcotics, whose international market value is Rs 2,411 crore, will be disposed of. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy against drug trafficking. The home ministry is implementing a three-pronged strategy to achieve a drug-free India by 2047. This includes strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing coordination among narcotics agencies, and launching a massive public awareness campaign,” the spokesperson said. Senior officers from various ministries, departments, and law enforcement agencies will also attend the conference.
