Raipur.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated the Zonal Unit Office of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh online. Amit Shah also chaired a review meeting on the drug scenario in Chhattisgarh. Many dignitaries including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director General, NCB, Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh and Director General of Police were present on the occasion.
On this occasion, the Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolution of a drug-free country in 2047, the centenary year of India’s independence, is now becoming the resolution of every citizen of the country. He said that the resolution of a drug-free India is very important for building a prosperous, safe and glorious India. Shah said that drugs are not just India’s problem but a global problem.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that if we fight the war against drugs in India with intensity, seriousness and a complete strategy, then we can win this battle. He said that illegal trade of narcotics in India is linked with national security. Shah said that the money earned from illegal trade of drugs promotes terrorism and left wing extremism and weakens the country’s economy. He said that drugs not only ruin the country’s young generation but also weaken the country’s security.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that everyone should move forward on the policy of zero tolerance against narcotics and fulfill Modi ji’s resolve of a drug-free India. He said that today the Raipur Zonal Office of NCB has been inaugurated. He said that this zonal office will play an important role in controlling narcotics not only in the state but in the entire region. Union Home Minister Shah said that our goal is to have the presence of NCB in every state of the country. He said that the Modi government will establish NCB offices in every state and end the drug trade with the cooperation of the state governments.
The 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 sedative use in Chhattisgarh is 1.45 which is more than the national average and the use of ganja is also 4.98 percent which is more than the national average. Amit Shah emphasized on the use of scientific methods in investigating drug smuggling 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.
The Union Home Minister said that the person who uses drugs is a victim, while the one who trades in drugs 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 said that we will get complete success only by adopting a whole of government approach in the fight against drugs.
Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the achievement of NCB in the last 10 years has been very good. He said that from the year 2004 to 2014, a total of 1,250 cases were registered, whereas in the 10 years from 2014 to 2024, 4,150 cases were registered with an increase of 230 percent. Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 1,360 arrests were made which has now increased to 6,300. Similarly, between 2004 and 2014, 1 lakh 52 thousand kilograms of drugs were seized, whereas between 2014 and 2024, 5 lakh 43 thousand kilograms of drugs were seized with an increase of 257 percent. The value of drugs seized between 2004 and 2014 was Rs 5,900 crore while the value of drugs seized between 2014 and 2024 is Rs 22,000 crore. Shah said that under an organized approach led by Prime Minister Modi, we have been successful in bringing the fight against drugs to a conclusion in 10 years. He said that to achieve Prime Minister Modi’s goal of a drug-free India, this fight will have to be made a ‘people’s movement’ by creating awareness against drugs among the youth and general public of the country.
The Union Home Minister stressed the need to hold regular meetings at all 4 levels under the Narco Coordination Mechanism. He said that the recently launched ‘MANAS’ portal should be used by all. Shah told all states that they can take help of Government of India agencies for financial investigation in drug cases. The Home Minister also stressed the need for regular use of the Joint Coordination Committee. He said that inter-state cases should be handed over to the NCB to dismantle the entire network of drugs.
