Amit Shah, the minister of cooperation and the union minister of the interior, praised the advancements made in India’s fight against substance abuse and illicit trafficking on Monday. He claimed that the value of drugs seized had increased nearly 30 times, from a respectable 768 crore between 2006 and 2013 to an impressive 22,000 crore between 2014 and 2022.
In addition, compared to the preceding time period, there has been a significant 181% rise in the number of charges filed against drug dealers.
Speaking on “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,” Shah emphasized the government’s continuous dedication to battling drug abuse. According to him, a comprehensive and well-coordinated strategy is used to fight narcotics on a war footing at the national level through a variety of platforms.
The zero tolerance approach against drugs imposed by the ministry of home affairs has produced notable results. Shah emphasized the success of the “Whole of Government Approach,” which places an emphasis on collaboration amongst several ministries to increase the efficiency of anti-drug initiatives.
Shah praised the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for organizing the national “Nasha Mukt Pakhwada” (Drug-Free Fortnight) on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. He also expressed his gratitude to groups and people engaged in the battle against drugs.
Shah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending the domestic drug trade and keeping India from acting as a hub for international drug trafficking.
This conflict is being vigorously fought by the Narcotics Control Bureau and other significant organizations. In order to intensify the fight against narcotics, the Ministry of Home Affairs established the National Coordination Centre (NCORD) and the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in police departments throughout all states. In Delhi, India, in April 2023, ANTF hosted its inaugural national conference.
According to Amit Shah, the national campaign against drug abuse and its negative repercussions is being conducted on a war footing through the right venues.
“The result of our all-out, well-coordinated war on drugs is that where illicit substances worth Rs. 768 crore only were seized in 2006–13, it increased almost 30 times to Rs. 22,000 crore in 2014–22, and 181% more cases have been enrolled against drug peddlers than during the earlier period. This demonstrates the Modi administration’s dedication to making India drug-free, the minister added.
To avoid the re-use of confiscated drugs, “We also launched a destruction campaign in June 2022. Under this campaign, approximately 6 lakh kg of seized narcotics have been destroyed across the country so far,” he added.
Shah emphasized that society must take an active role in the battle against drug usage. He asked people to keep narcotics out of the reach of their family and to report any drug-related activity to law enforcement. Shah emphasized the detrimental effects of narcotics on youth and society while highlighting the threat that drug smuggling profits bring to national security.
Shah expressed optimism in solving the drug problem and creating a “Drugs-free India” via teamwork and unwavering will. He reiterated the government’s commitment to fighting the war on drugs and thanked the Narcotics Control Bureau and other organizations for their crucial efforts.
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