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Raipur, August 25, 2024: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today virtually inaugurated the Zonal Unit Office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Shah also chaired a review meeting on the Narcotics scenario in Chhattisgarh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve of a drug-free India by 2047, the centenary year of India’s independence, is today becoming the resolve of every citizen of the country, addressing the event said Shah
He said that the resolution of a drug-free India is significant for building a prosperous, safe and glorious India.
Shah said that drugs are not just India’s problem but a global menace.
The Union Minister underlined “if we fight the battle against drugs in India with intensity, seriousness and a comprehensive strategy, we can win this battle”.
He added that illicit trafficking of narcotics in India severely impairs national security. Shah said that money earned from illicit drug trade promotes terrorism and left-wing extremism and weakens the country’s economy.
Many dignitaries including Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director General NCB, Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Amitabh Jain and Director General of Police Ashok Juneja were also present on the occasion.
Shah said that drugs not only ruin the country’s young generation but also weaken the country’s national security.
Union Home Minister said that everyone should move forward together on the zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and fulfill PM Modi’s resolve of a drug-free India.
Today the Raipur Zonal Office of NCB has been inaugurated. This office will play an important role in controlling narcotics not only in the state but in the entire region, Shah said.
Our aim is to have the presence of NCB in every state of the country, he said and added that the Modi government will end the drug trade by establishing NCB offices in every state with the cooperation of the state governments.
Union Home Minister said that today the trend of drug trafficking is changing and it is moving from natural to synthetic drugs. He said that the percentage of use of sedatives in Chhattisgarh is 1.45, which is more than the national average and the use of Cannabis (ganja) is also 4.98 per cent, which is more than the national average.
Shah emphasized on the use of scientific methods in the investigation of drug-trafficking cases. He said that we need to work with a ‘Top to Bottom and Bottom to Top’ approach and dismantle the entire network in a ruthless manner. Shah said that unless we attack the entire network, we will not be able to achieve the goal of a drug-free India.
Union Home Minister said that the user of drugs is a victim while the one who trades in it is a criminal. He said that we can be successful in this fight only by following the four principles of detection of drugs, destruction of the network, detention of the culprit and rehabilitation of the addict. He added that we will get complete success only by adopting a Whole of Government approach in the fight against drugs.
Shah said that the performance of NCB has been very good in the last 10 years. He informed that from the year 2004 to 2014, a total of 1250 cases were registered whereas in the 10 years from 2014 to 2024, 4150 cases have been registered with a rise of 230%. Between 2004 and 2014, there were a total of 1,360 arrests, which has now risen to 6,300. Similarly, 1 lakh 52 thousand kg of drugs were seized between 2004 and 2014 while 5 lakh 43 thousand kg of drugs were seized between 2014 and 2024, which is an increase of 257%.
The value of drugs seized between 2004 to 2014 was Rs 5,900 crore while the value of drugs seized between 2014 to 2024 is Rs 22,000 crore. Shah said, we have been able to bring the fight against drugs to a conclusion in 10 years with an organized approach. He said that to achieve Prime Minister Modi’s goal of a drug-free India, this fight has to be made a ‘Jan Andolan’ by creating awareness against drugs among the youth and the general public of the country.
Union Home Minister stressed the need to hold regular meetings at all 4 levels under the NCORD mechanism. He said that the recently launched MANAS portal should be used by all. Shah told all the states that they can take the help of all government agencies to investigate drug financing.
Shah also stressed the need for regular use of the Joint Coordination Committee. He said that inter-state cases should be handed over to NCB to dismantle the entire network of drugs.
