Lok Sabha Question No. 1976 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Drug Trade in Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1976 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## DRUG TRADE IN TOURISM SECTOR

## 1976. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  drug  trade,  which  focuses  on  hotels  operating along the coast, is likely to affect national security and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  the  increasing incidents of drug abuse and sexual harassment indicate that the supply of drugs for sexual exploitation is on the rise and if so, the steps taken to stop this in tourism sector;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiative  to  curb international drug trafficking under the guise of tourism; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  the  car  accident occurred in Ernakulam, Kerala, that claimed the lives of three, including two models is a bi product of directionless tourism policy?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM                               (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): Narcotics  Control  Bureau  (NCB)  has  informed  that  their  field formation  has  seized  some  drugs  from  hotels  during  last  three years. The details attached as Annexure. However, no such incident about  drug trafficking from hotels on  coastal areas  affecting national security, has been reported as on date. Details from other central and state Drug Law Enforcement Agency are not available with Narcotics Control Bureau.
- (b): No such data is available with NCB.

(c):  Central  and  State  Drug  Law  Enforcement  Agencies  have arrested  foreigners  under  NDPS  Act  1985,  coming  on  valid  visa issued for various purposes including tourism.  The details of such arrest of foreigners during last 03 years are as under:

| Particular          |   2019 |   2020 |   2021 |
|---------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Arrested foreigners |    430 |    196 |    345 |

However,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  taken  various  steps  to contain international drug trafficking into India:-

- i) Narcotics  Control  Bureau  has  signed  27  Bilateral  Agreements and 17 MOUs with various countries.
2. ii) DG  level  talks  are  being  conducted  with  countries  known  for Heroin production and neighbour countries.
3. iii) Exchange  of  information  with  other  international  drug  law enforcement  agencies  such  as  DEA,  RCMP,  NCA,  AFP,  Saudi Arabia, Nepal are being carried out.
4. iv) Moreover, efforts are being made to participate in multinational platform such as SCO, BRICS, Colombo Plan, SAARC, BIMSTEC etc. for shearing of information and making joint action plans.
- v) Have special surveillance over foreign nationals specially Nigerians, Afghans etc.
6. vi) Recently,  B2B  platforms  have  been  put  under  ambit  of  NDPS (RCS/Order,  2013)  for  strict  regulation  of  notified  substances and precursors.
7. (vii)Establishing  NCORD  mechanism  to  envisage  joint  action  plan for  various  department  and  ministries  of  centre  and  State  to control.

(d): No such data is available.

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ANNEXURE STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1976 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022 REGARDING DRUG TRADE IN TOURISM SECTOR. Drugs seized from Hotels in last 3 years (2019-2021)

|   Total No.of Cases | Drugs Seized                                                              |   Total number of person arrested |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|                  10 | Charas (1.482 Kg); Mephedrone (564.2 grams) and 12.055Kg Methamphetamine) |                                17 |

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