Act ruthlessly against illegal drug labs, Shah tells states

Speaking at the “Drug Trafficking and National Security” conference organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said all states should take legal action on illegal clandestine labs with ruthless approach.

Admitting that the dark web, cryptocurrency and drones are three major challenges in combatting the drug menace, he asked all agencies to reinforce their commitment to a drug-free India by preventing drug smuggling.

He said narcotics worth Rs 16,914 crore were seized in 2024, the highest figure since Independence. Shah stressed that no nation could progress with a youth population grappling with addiction and urged collective efforts to fight this challenge.

Shah also launched the drug disposal fortnight starting from Saturday to January 25. He said 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.

Emphasising that regional conferences have played a pivotal role in strengthening the nation’s fight against drugs, he stressed the importance of timely policies, enhanced intensity, meticulous micro-planning and consistent monitoring to address the challenges ahead. He underscored that achieving a drug-free India is crucial to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a fully developed India by 2047.

He called for unified efforts, urging both the union and state governments, along with all relevant departments, to work collaboratively with dedication and commitment to eradicate this evil. Claiming that several narcoterrorism cases were busted in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, he said, “We are determined to destroy the entire ecosystem of narco terror.”

He called for a collaborative, technology-driven approach involving states, the Central Government and technocrats to address these issues. “In the last decade, there has been a seven-fold increase in drug seizures, demonstrating our strong resolve to destroy the entire drug ecosystem,” he said.

Comparing the past two decades, he revealed that from 2004-14, 3.63 lakh kg of drugs were seized, while from 2014-24, seizures rose to 24 lakh kg — a seven-fold increase.

Additionally, the value of drugs destroyed grew from Rs 8,150 crore in 2004-14 to Rs 54,851 crore in 2014-24, an eight-fold rise.