New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired the third meeting of the Apex Level Committee of Narco Coordination Center (NCORD) and took a series of decisions to curb drugs in the country, including scanning of containers at all ports.
Shah called upon officials to ensure that the vision of 'Drug-Free India' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes reality, and said government has “zero tolerance policy against narcotics”.
“Modi government considers drug abuse as a major threat to the national security which can only be dealt with overall coordination,” the Home Minister said at the meeting.
Calling it a borderless crime, the Home Minister said there is a need for better coordination between all drug law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies, not only at the national level but also between the Center and the States.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of drugs worth Rs 1881 crore being seized between 2018 and 2021, including 3000 kg of drugs that was seized at Mundra Port in Gujarat, which is three times the value of drugs seized between 2011 and 2014 (worth Rs. 604 crore). Between 2018 and 2021, about 35 lakh kgs of drugs were confiscated while between 2011 and 2014, about 16 lakh kgs of drugs were confiscated.
It was decided that special efforts will be made by all coastal States and UTs and State NCORD Committee meetings should have all stakeholders like Coast Guard, Navy, and Ports Authorities. Directions were given for the arrangement of Container Scanners and related equipment for scanning of incoming and outgoing containers at all ports, whether government or private.
The apex body decided that all states should form Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) under DGPs which will work as State NCORD secretariats. Directions were given to form central NCORD unit under Narcotics Control Bureau at national level. A Narcotics Training Module would also be prepared at national level so that police, CAPF personnel, prosecutors and people from civil departments can be trained under it.
A standing Inter-Ministerial Committee will be set up to curb misuse of dual-use precursor chemicals which will be conducted by Chemical and Fertilizers Ministry and will have NCB from Home Affairs and representatives from Department of Revenue and Finance Ministry.
Along with this, to stop misuse of dual-use prescription medicines, a standing Inter-Ministerial Committee under Health Ministry should be formed which should have Department of Pharma, National Medical Commission, NCB and experts related to industry.
Instructions were also given to develop Narco-Canine Pool at the national level, and NCB in coordination with National Security Guards, should make a policy under which the facility of canine squad should be provided to State police as well.
National Narcotics Call Centre ‘MANAS’ will be launched an integrated NCORD portal at the central level should be set up which will act as an effective mechanism for information exchange between various institutions and agencies.
The other decisions included that an effective system will be put in place to stop increasing use of Dark Net and Crypto-currency in illegal drugs trade, drones, satellite and other technology will be used for curbing farming of narcotics, elaborate spread of awareness campaign against drugs and setting up of drug de-addiction centers in all major prisons.
Especially chapters related to drug abuse and its ill-effects should be added in the school curriculum for which the D/o School Education, BPR&D and M/o Social Welfare and Empowerment should prepare a roadmap.
It is a matter of great pleasure that the e-pledge campaign against drug abuse being run by NCB has received the support of 1,38,000 people in a short span of time
Shri Shah directed that all personnel, all Central Paramilitary police forces and State police forces should participate in the Modi government’s oath campaign of drug-free India and ensure that all their personnel become a part of this oath campaign
This campaign should be completed by January 12, 2022, Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, which we celebrate as National Youth Day, and this campaign should be taken to every door in the form of a mass movement.
UNI AO SHK2202