Nation trapped in narcotic grip, time to declare war on drugs

With 200 kg of narcotic substances being seized in the last month alone, it is now clear that India has become a major centre for drug syndicates.

Hyderabad: One of the biggest questions troubling India today is whether any state is free from drug menace. Proof of drug manufacturing units, rampant usage and smuggling are proving time and again that India has become a major centre for drug syndicates.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has revealed that 200 kg of narcotic substances were seized in the last month alone. In May, 1,818 kg of drugs worth Rs 1,000 crore in the open market were seized from an apartment in Greater Noida. In August, drugs worth Rs 400 crore were seized in Manipur.

The anti-terrorism squad seized Rs 51 crores worth stock of narcotic Mephedrone in Panvel, Maharashtra. The Coast guard officers seized 1,155 kg of banned drugs near Port Blair. Five Afghans were apprehended at the Delhi airport for ingesting 370 high purity heroin capsules for smuggling into India. Recently, 700kg of cannabis was seized in Varanasi. Drug smuggling is going on unperturbed with Northeast Andhra as the major cannabis producer.

If the quantity of drugs being seized in random investigations is so high, one can imagine the actual magnitude of this social evil.

The International Narcotics Control Board explained about the ever-growing demand and supply equation of drugs long ago. Easy availability of narcotics is the reason why a large number of people are getting addicted by the day. Every day, about 10 people are committing suicide due to drug addiction.

Prime Minister Modi has termed drugs as a 3D problem, the three Ds being darkness, destruction and devastation. About 1000 tonnes of Heroin and Morphine are made from the opium cultivated in Afghanistan alone. The drugs are reaching several countries through three travel corridors. The recent seizure of 1,100 kg heroin in India revealed the involvement of Pakistan drug syndicate. Pakistan, which couldn’t face India in a direct war is now trying to create a crisis through drug smuggling.

The drug menace has already gripped Punjab while the neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are slowly being affected.

Drug mafia is growing by leaps and bounds as our governments are putting every effort to make alcohol abundantly available to all. During the recent general elections, the amount of narcotic substance seized was four times the amount of illegal liquor.

The Supreme court has made several instructions after reviewing the Bachpan Bachao Andolan petition filed by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi. It ordered for a review in 6 months' time after surveying the prevalence of drugs in various parts of the country.

A rehabilitation centre was also proposed in every district to save children who are addicted to drugs, but the implementation is lacklustre.

Reports about half the Punjab police force being drug addicts is shocking and making us question internal controls. There cannot be any more delay in declaring war against drugs.

The Prime Minister announced that The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) will come into full force from January 2020. It must be aimed at destroying the drug menace. It is the responsibility of governments to see that the future generation does not become sacrificial fuel in the drug offerings.

Read: Coordinated efforts from states can lead to a drug-free India