Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs Regional Conference on Drug Trafficking, Announces Massive Crackdown on Narcotics.
New Delhi:
In a decisive move to tackle the growing drug trafficking crisis in India, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ in New Delhi on January 11, 2025. The conference, organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), brought together top leaders and officials to discuss strategies for curbing drug trafficking and its links to national security, with a special focus on eight northern states and union territories.
During the conference, Amit Shah announced the launch of the ‘Drug Disposal Fortnight,’ a campaign aimed at destroying a staggering one lakh kilograms of seized narcotics, valued at approximately Rs. 8,600 crore. This initiative, which will run for the next ten days, is a clear signal of the government’s commitment to eradicating drugs from the nation and fighting the menace of narcotics on all fronts.
In a statement, the Union Home Minister emphasized that in 2024 alone, narcotics worth Rs. 16,914 crore were seized—marking the highest haul since India’s independence. He described this as a significant achievement in the fight against the drug trade, highlighting the increased effectiveness of law enforcement agencies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Shah outlined the government’s multi-faceted approach to combating drug trafficking, which includes a “ruthless” crackdown on the drug supply chain, strategic efforts to reduce demand, and a humanitarian approach to supporting victims of drug addiction. He urged states to adopt a tough stance against illegal drug labs, emphasizing the need to take legal action with “ruthlessness” against clandestine operations that produce illicit substances.
Noting the evolving nature of the drug trade, the Home Minister pointed to the growing threats posed by new technologies like the dark web, cryptocurrency, and drones used for drug smuggling. He called for all agencies to ramp up efforts to prevent the use of these technologies in trafficking networks. “We are moving towards a drug-free India, and all agencies must work in synergy to combat these emerging challenges,” Shah stated.
Shah also stressed the importance of strengthening the fight against narco-terrorism, with law enforcement agencies in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh having already uncovered multiple drug-terrorism links. The Home Minister noted that India’s success in disrupting these networks is a result of rapid advancements in drug investigations and highlighted the necessity of tackling financial aspects of drug trade networks.
In addition to the physical destruction of drugs, Amit Shah launched the extension of the MANAS-2 helpline across all 36 states and Union Territories, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to public engagement and support for drug addiction recovery. He called for immediate action on every call to the helpline, which has already assisted over 25,000 individuals.
The conference also addressed the need for enhanced forensic capabilities and the use of financial investigations to dismantle drug trafficking networks. Shah emphasized that no major drug case should be closed without a thorough financial probe, aiming to seize assets linked to illegal activities.
As part of the government’s broader strategy, the Home Minister encouraged states to hold district-level NCORD meetings, focusing on achieving practical, actionable outcomes in the fight against drugs. He underscored the critical importance of geo-tagging, time-stamping, and videography during narcotics seizures to ensure transparency and accountability.
Concluding the session, Amit Shah urged all stakeholders—government departments, law enforcement agencies, and citizens—to come together in the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ (Drug-Free India) campaign. He warned that failing to address the drug crisis now would have irreversible consequences for future generations, with the potential to derail India’s development and national security.
As part of the ongoing efforts, the Home Minister highlighted that the Modi government has consistently increased its focus on drug control, with the number of drug seizures rising exponentially over the past decade, as well as the value of destroyed drugs soaring seven-fold. The government’s strategic and comprehensive approach, Shah said, will ensure that India remains resolute in its mission to eliminate narcotics and protect future generations from the devastating effects of drug abuse.
