Lok Sabha Question No. 1246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Drug Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1246

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH  FEBRUARY, 2021/ MAGHA 20, 1942 (SAKA)

DRUG TRAFFICKING

1246. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to stop drug trafficking in the country from the infamous golden triangle and golden crescent during the last three years;

(b)  the  details  of  the  measures  taken  to  increase  the  manpower  and infrastructure of the Narcotics Control Bureau during the said period;

(c)  the  details  of  the  drug  trafficking  related  crimes  registered  in  the National Capital Territory of Delhi during the last three years; and

(d)  whether  there  is  an  increase  in  drug  trafficking  cases  during  the  said period and if so, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a):

Government of India has taken various steps to stop drug trafficking in the country which, inter-alia, are as under:-

 For  coordination  among  various  Central  and  State  Agencies,  the  Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was set up by Ministry of Home

Affairs  (MHA)  in  the  year  2016  to  conduct  regular  meetings with these

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1246 FOR 09.02.2021

agencies  for  effective  Drug  Law  Enforcement.  This  NCORD  system  has been restructured into a 4 tier scheme up to district level by MHA on 29 July 2019 for better coordination.

-  For monitoring the investigation of large seizure cases, a Joint Coordination  Committee  (JCC)  with Director General (DG), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as its Chairman was set up by the Governement of India on 19 July 2019.
-  For  digitization  of  pan-India  drug  seizure  data,  MHA  has  launched  an  eportal  called  'Seizure  Information  Management  System  (SIMS)'  in  March, 2019  for  all  the  drug  law  enforcement  agencies  under  the  mandate  of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
-  Financial assistance under the scheme 'Assistance to States for Narcotics Control'  is  provided  by  MHA  to  eligible  States  for  strengthening  their narcotic units.
-  Border  Security  Force  (BSF)  and  Sashastra  Seema  Bal  (SSB)  have  been empowered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985  (NDPS)  for  making  interdiction  of  narcotic  drugs  at  international border.
-  Illicit cultivation is addressed  through use of satellite  imagery  and
- subsequent destruction of such crops in coordination with States.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1246 FOR 09.02.2021

-  As  a  part  of  International  co-operation,  India  has  signed  27  Bilateral Agreements,16  Memoranda  of  Understanding  with  different  countries  for combating  illicit  trafficking  of  NDPS  and  chemical  precursors  as  well  as related offences.
-  Director General Level Talks have been organized with neighboring countries  such  as  Myanmar,  Afghanistan,  Sri  Lanka,  Bangladesh  etc  to resolve various issues on drugs having international implications.
-  NCB,  India  and  Central  Committee  for  Drug  Abuse  Control  (CCDAC), Myanmar regularly holds Field Level Officer (FLO) Meetings on International Border  to  discuss  and  resolve  the  drug  related  issues  pertaining  to  both countries.
-  NCB  also  co-ordinates  with  various  international  organizations  such  as SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD), Brazil, Russia, India, China and  South  Africa  (BRICS),  Colombo  Plan,  Association  of  Southeast  Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD), Bay of Bengal Initiative  For  Multi-Sectoral  Technical  and  Economic  Co-Operation (BIMSTEC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International  Narcotics  Control  Board  (INCB)  etc  for  sharing  information and intelligence to combat trans-national drug trafficking.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1246 FOR 09.02.2021

-  Coordination and sharing of intelligence with various Drug Law Enforcement  Agencies  of  Centre  like  BSF,  Central  Reserve  Police  Force (CRPF),  Directorate  of  Revenue  Intelligence  (DRI),  Central  Excise  and Customs and those of state agencies like Police and State Excise.
- (b)  Government of India has taken measures from time to time to increase the  manpower  of  Narcotics  Control  Bureau.  In  April  2017,  330  new  posts were created in NCB.

(c)  &  (d)  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  is  the  Central  Agency which  compiles  the  data  on  crimes  as  reported  by  States  and  Union Territories and publishes the same in its annual publication 'Crime in India'. The latest published report is of the year 2019. No specific information is available  with  NCRB  regarding  drug  trafficking  related  crimes  in  the National  Capital  Territory  of  Delhi.  However,  cases  registered  under  the Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act during the year 2017, 2018 &  2019  in  Delhi  are  376,  507  &  712  respectively.  Sharp  vigil,  effective surveillance, public cooperation, source-based intelligence, sensitization of field officials for better enforcement etc. have resulted in gradual increase in registration of number of drug trafficking related cases in Delhi.

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