Drug money most serious threat to security, says Amit Shah

New Delhi, July 19

The Centre has seized 5.43 lakh kgs of drugs worth Rs 22,000 crore in the past 10 years and it is the government’s resolve to prevent the contraband from entering the country as also the use of its borders for drug trafficking, Home Minister Amit Shah has said.

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“We will not let even a gram of drugs come into India, nor will we allow India’s borders to be used in any way for drug trafficking. There should be a ruthless approach towards the drug supply chain, a strategic approach towards demand reduction, and a human approach to harm reduction,” he said after chairing the 7th apex level meeting of Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) here.

“The entire drug business is now linked to narco-terror, and the money generated from the drug trade has become the most serious threat to the country’s security. The goal of all agencies should not only be to nab drug users but also to bust the entire network,” the Home Minister said further.

At the event, Shah launched the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra), besides virtually inaugurating the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) zonal office at Srinagar. The minister further released the NCB’s annual report 2023 and a compendium on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’.

“In the past five years, we carried out this battle through structural, institutional and informational reforms and proceeded through the whole of government approach. The outcome of this approach is very encouraging. Between 2004 and 2013, the amount of drugs seized was 1.52 lakh kg, which increased to 5.43 lakh kg from 2014 to 2024. The value of drugs increased from Rs 5,933 crore between 2004 and 2013 to more than Rs 22,000 crore between 2014 and 2024,” he said.

The meeting was aimed at coordinating and synergising the efforts of various central and state government agencies involved in countering drug trafficking and abuse in India.

“We need to make the NCORD meetings the forums for decisions and reviews. Every district needs to fix its goal and review its achievements. They need to keep track of how many youths have been sent to rehabilitation centres and how many cases of connivance of drug trade and economic offences have been unearthed,” the minister said.