New Delhi: In an effort to make the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) more effective, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) has proposed to make an overall revamp of the department. Sources in the Ministry told ETV Bharat on Friday that formation of a cyber technical cell has been proposed to tackle the challenges arising out of modern technological methods used by drug traffickers.
With the increasing popularity of crypto-currencies, “darknet” markets have grown where drug traffickers are using encryption software to protect their communications, data and money which makes it difficult to track and seize drugs.
“It was recommended that efforts should be made to take effective measures against the DarkNet and ToR kind of software,” sources said.
The Home Ministry has also proposed the creation of 3,689 posts in various grades up to level-15 to further strengthen NCB from existing 1,107 to 4,751.
“Increase in the number of regional offices from existing 3 to 7 has been emphasised. Creation of 17 new zonal offices and upgrading all existing 12 sub-zonal offices into zonal offices and raising the number of field offices to 42 (including 13 existing regional offices) has also been emphasised,” sources said.
A proposal has been made for a canine wing to identify drugs and drug intelligence units in the NCRB.
“Creation of a dedicated prosecution wing to provide for in house expertise for legal advice and taking up all cases filed under NDPS Act,” sources said.
It may be mentioned here that the purpose of coordination among all states and central agencies in drug-related issues, a narco coordination mechanism was already set up by MHA.
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This mechanism provides a common platform for all drug-related issues within the country. To provide for a more effective platform, the mechanism has been revamped in July, 2019 into a four-tier structure- including apex committee headed by Union home secretary, an executive committee headed by special secretary (internal security), state-level committee headed by the chief secretary, and district level committee headed by a superintendent of police of the district.
The committees also have representatives from different other ministries like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), department of revenue and all central and state drug law enforcement agencies.
For cooperation and information-sharing at the international level, the NCB has also entered into an agreement with 42 countries. In addition, the NCB liaises with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) regularly.
As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) records 2,47,021.651 kg of opium-based drugs, 3,03,492.34 kg opium, 371.986 kg morphin, 4781.803 kg heroin, 2,08,375.522 kg poppy husk and many others were seized under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 during the year 2019.
As many as 24,266.996 kg opium were seized in Madhya Pradesh in 2019, 3989.485 kg of opium in Maharastra, 1821.165 kg of opium was seized in Jharkhand in 2019.
The NCRB data says that a total of 95,011 persons were arrested, 84,838 persons were charge-sheeted and 35,477 persons were convicted under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act during 2019.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, former director-general of Border Security Force (BSF) Prakash Singh said that it was necessary to bring an overall revamp of the NCB.
“With the rapid increase of drug-related cases and people involved in the incident, it was necessary on the part of the government to opt for an up-gradation of NCB infrastructure,” said Singh.
He said that once the proposal got implemented, the NCB will have necessary technical infrastructure, legal expertise and sufficient manpower to deal with the drug menace effectively.
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