Amit Shah Calls for Decisive Action to Dismantle Drug Networks, Says Govt Targets Drug-Free India by 2029
New Delhi, September 22
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the time has come to take a strong and decisive blow to narcotics, which has become a serious threat to the country and the world. Inaugurating the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads of States and UTs in New Delhi today, Mr Shah said, with the aim of improving the welfare of the youth, Government has prepared the roadmap 2029. He said, by 2029 Government will collectively succeed in uprooting the drug trade from India.
The Home Minister said, the roadmap of drug-free India is very important to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of creating a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He said, in this fight against drugs, India is moving towards complete victory by setting targets, timeline and accountability.
Mr Shah said, now there is a need to go from Meeting to Mission, Reporting to Result, Seizure to End of Network and Case to Conviction. He said, the goal should be to make ANTF an Anti-Narco Mission Command. The Minister called upon officers to move forward with the aim of dismantling the network instead of a Seizure-centric approach. He said, district will have to be made the basic unit of fight against drugs. Mr Shah informed that Nashamukt Mitras will visit 10 lakh schools, colleges and institutions of the country to create awareness among the youth and sensitize the campus directors. He said, along with backwards-forward investigation, financial investigation and finding digital links should be the priority.
The Home Minister said, the cartel has to be attacked at three levels, entry point, interstate distribution system and local cell network in the districts. He said, a campaign will have to be launched to send back the foreign accused present in India and blacklist them, so that they cannot come to India again. He added that the fugitives who are supplying drugs to the country from abroad should be caught and brought before the Indian courts. The Home Minister asked officers to make the entire process of converting every ANTF information into actionable intelligence a part of the state’s police culture.
During the event, Mr Shah also launched the new website of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He released four Television Commercials to create awareness among people about drug abuse. Mr Shah also laid the foundation stones for the new zonal office and residential complex of the NCB in Lucknow and a new zonal office complex in Dehradun.
The two-day conference serves as a powerful platform to safeguard future generations from the menace of drugs. Heads of ANTFs from 36 States and Union Territories are attending the conference, being organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Based on the theme of the United Resolve, Shared Responsibility, the conference is focusing on progress of targets assigned to State and UTs ANTFs in recently released Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-29).