Lok Sabha Question No. 194 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Drug Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*194

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31 ST  JULY, 2018 /SHRAVANA 9, 1940 (SAKA)

DRUG TRAFFICKING

†*194. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  any  joint  efforts  along  with  the neighbouring countries to stop drug trafficking;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  drug  trafficking  in  the border areas adjacent to Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet; and

(d)  the  action  plan  formulated  by  the  Government  to  check  rise  in  drug abuse among the youth?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *194 FOR 31 ST  JULY, 2018 REGARDING DRUG TRAFFICKING

(a) to (c): Yes Madam.  The Government has made various coordination efforts such as signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) / Bilateral Agreements  on  drug  related  matters  with  neighboring  countries  namely Pakistan,  Nepal,  Myanmar,  Bhutan,  Bangladesh,  Sri  Lanka,  China  and Afghanistan.  Agency  level  talks  as  well  as  Field  Level  Officers  (FLO) meetings  are  held  between  Central  Committee  for  Drug  Abuse  Control (CCDAC) ,  Myanmar  and  Narcotics  Control  Bureau  (NCB)  which  is  the Central  Authority  for  India.  NCB  is  also  a  part  of  multilateral  forum  in SAARC  Drug  Offences  Monitoring  Desk  (SDOMD)  which  focuses  on  drug crimes.  Training  programmes  are  being  conducted  inter-alia  to  combat drug menace at borders. In addition, coordination and sharing of intelligence  is  done  amongst  various  agencies  of  Central  and  State Governments. Interdiction along known  drug routes, surveillance at Import/Export points, and sharing of real time information and coordination with nodal agencies of neighbouring countries is carried out to check drug trafficking in border areas including those adjacent to Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet.  Narco  Coordination  Centre  (NCORD)  has  been  constituted  for coordination  with  Central  and  State  agencies  which  conducts  regular monthly, quarterly and annual meetings for effective drug law enforcement.

(d):    Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment,  which  is  the  nodal Ministry for Drug Demand Reduction, has taken various steps to check rise in  drug  abuse  such  as  implementation  of  a  "Central  Sector  Scheme  of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse" for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for rehabilitation of drug addicts. A National Toll Free drug de-addiction 24X7 helpline Number 1800-11-0031 has been set up to help the victims of drug abuse, their family and society at large. Awareness generation programmes including campaigns through print, electronic and social media are being conducted regularly. Sensitization  and  preventive  education  programmes  are  conducted  in schools  and  colleges  on  regular  basis  by  National  Institute  of  Social Defense (NISD). International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking is being observed on 28 th  June every year.

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