Lok Sabha Question No. 1480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Smuggling of Narcotic Drugs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1480

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 07 th  DECEMBER, 2021/AGRAHAYANA 16,1943 (SAKA)

SMUGGLING OF NARCOTIC DRUGS

1480.  SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  any  joint  effort  with  the  neighbouring nations to check the smuggling of narcotic drugs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  steps taken by the Government to check the smuggling of narcotics in the border areas adjoining Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet; and
- (d)  the  action  plan  formulated  by  the  Government  to  check  the  increasing consumption of narcotic drugs amongst the youth?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

- (a) & (b) The Government is making various joint efforts with the neighbouring countries to check smuggling of Narcotic drugs.  Some of them are detailed below :-
- (i)        Signing of Bilateral Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan on prevention and combating illicit trafficking in Narcotics Drugs, Psychotropic substances and chemical precursors, as well as related offences and security cooperation.

## LS.US.Q.NO. 1480 FOR 07.12.2021

- (ii) Government of India is providing technical assistance to the bordering countries especially Myanmar, by providing satellite imageries  of  areas  under  illicit  cultivation  of  opium  poppy  and subsequent destruction thereof.
- (iii) Director  General  Level  talks  with  neighbouring  nations  such  as Myanmar,  Afghanistan,  Sri  Lanka  and  Bangladesh,  etc.,  are  held regularly to resolve various issues on drug trafficking having international ramifications.
- (iv) Intelligence  Sharing  and  Controlled  Delivery  Operations  are  being carried out with neighbouring countries.

(c)The  following  measures  have  been  taken  to  prevent  smuggling  along  the border areas:

- (i) Detailed  vulnerability  mapping  of  Border,  deployment  of  additional manpower by different forces manning the border and use of special surveillance equipment;
- (ii) Round  -  the  -  clock  surveillance  of  the  border  through  patrolling, laying nakas, installation of border fence and flood lights, introduction of force multipliers and  Hi-tech surveillance equipments such as Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI), Night Vision Device (NVD), Long-Range   Reconnaissance   and   Observation  System  (LORROS),

## LS.US.Q.NO. 1480 FOR 07.12.2021

Battle  Field  Surveillance  Radar  (BFSR),  Unmanned  Aerial  Vehicle (UAV), etc;

- (iii) Up-gradation of intelligence network and sensitization of field formations is being done on regular basis.
- (iv) Establishment  of  observation  posts,  area  domination  patrols  along the  border,  use  of  water  craft  and  boats  for  domination  of  riverine areas of International Border, etc.

(d) The Government is taking sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse among the youth. This includes:

- (i) Launching of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in 272 vulnerable districts.  Under  this,  a  massive  community  outreach  is  being  done involving youth volunteers.
- (ii) Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) are being run for treating the drug users and  to provide services of preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction,  after  care  and  re-integration  into  the social mainstream.

## LS.US.Q.NO. 1480 FOR 07.12.2021

- (iii) Community  -  based  Peer  led  Intervention  (CPLI)  Centers  are  in operation    with   focus   on   vulnerable   and   at   risk   children  and adolescents. Under this, peer educators engage children for awareness generation and life skill activities.
- (iv) Setting up and maintaining Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs) to provide safe and secure space for substance users, with provision of screening, assessment and counseling. It also provides referral and linkage to treatment and rehabilitation services for substance dependence.
- (v) Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) also facilitates awareness programme  in  schools/colleges/other  educational  institutes  all  over India.  NCB  officials  visit  de-addiction  centers  to  spread  awareness about health issues related to drug abuse.
- (vi) International  Day  against  Drug  Abuse  and  Illicit  Trafficking  on  26 th June is organized every year to spread awareness among the general public about the ill effects of drug abuse and drug trafficking through various  social  media  platforms  by  way  of  Audio/Video  messages  of eminent personalities from the field of Politics, Bureaucracy, Sports, Films,  Music  etc.  and  also  through  Telecom  Service  Providers,  FM radios, Television Channels, etc.

## LS.US.Q.NO. 1480 FOR 07.12.2021

- (vii) Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment  (MoSJ&E)  and  National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) with the assistance of NCB spread awareness against drug abuse and protect the  youth,  especially  the  children  from  falling  prey  to  the  drug menace.  NCPCR  formulated  a  'Joint  Acton  Plan  on  Prevention  of Drugs  and  Substance  Use  among  Children  and  Illicit  Trafficking' which was launched on 08.02.2021.

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