NEW DELHI — Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that dark web,
cryptocurrency, online marketplace and drones continue to be a challenge for
the country and these have to be checked by strict measures.
Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitiated during a regional
conference on Drug Trafficking and National Security, in New Delhi, Saturday,
Jan. 11, 2025. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)
Chairing a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and
National Security' here, Shah also asserted that the country will not allow
even a single kg of drugs to be smuggled in or out of the country.
He said the government has not only been successful in
eliminating many networks of drugs, but the terrorism linked with them too was
also destroyed. He said many cases of narco-terrorism were busted in Jammu and
Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and these were major achievements.
"The use of dark web, cryptocurrency, online
marketplace, drones continue to be a challenge for us even today," he
said.
Shah said a technical solution to these problems have to
be found through joint efforts by the states and the central government and
technocrats for the country's security and development.
He said the fight against drugs has gained a new strength
under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
"In the last 10 years, there has been a seven-fold
increase in the seizure of drugs which is a major achievement. The Modi
government has given a strong message of destroying the entire ecosystem of
drugs through strict action," he said.
The home minister said that in 2024, by seizing drugs
worth Rs 16,914 crore, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and police across the
country took the biggest action against drugs, which is a significant step in
making a drug-free society.
"No country can move forward on the path of
development with a young generation suffering from drug addiction. It is our
responsibility that we all fight this challenge together and make all efforts
to win this battle," he said.
Shah said that during 2004-14, a total of 3.63 kg of
drugs were seized while during 2014-24, altogether 24 lakh kg of drugs were
seized - a seven-fold increase as compared to the previous decade.
He said drugs worth Rs 8,150 crore were disposed off in
2004-14 but in 2014-24, drugs worth Rs 54,851 crore were destroyed - eight times more than the previous decade.
The conference, organised by the NCB, aims to address the
growing concern of drug trafficking and its impact on national security, with a
special focus on eight states and Union Territories of northern India.
Shah also launched the drug disposal fortnight starting
from Saturday to January 25. He said that during this period, one lakh kg of
narcotics worth Rs 8,600 crore will be destroyed.
The home minister also inaugurated the new office complex
of the NCB's Bhopal zonal unit and extension of the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36
states and UTs.
The main focus of the conference is on the sharing of
real-time information from the National Narcotics Helpline 'MANAS' portal with
the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of states and UTs, evaluating the progress
of states in combating drug trafficking, and assessing the effectiveness of the
Narcotics Coordination Mechanism (NCORD).
Other issues to be discussed at the conference include
strengthening and enhancing the functionality of State Forensic Science
Laboratories (SFSLs), utilising the NIDAAN database to bolster efforts against
drug trafficking, implementing provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act, establishing
special NDPS courts for the speedy trial of drug-related cases, and fostering a
Whole-of-Government approach to ensure comprehensive collaboration among all
agencies to combat drug trafficking and abuse effectively.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
Government of India has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drug
trafficking, an official release said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is implementing a
three-pronged strategy to achieve a drug-free India by 2047. This includes
strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing coordination among narcotics
agencies, and launching a public awareness campaign.
The conference is being attended by governors, lieutenant
governors, chief ministers and senior officers from the eight participating
states and UTs.
Senior officers from various central ministries,
departments, and law enforcement agencies also attended the conference.
