Lok Sabha Question No. 2456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Trafficking of Drugs through Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2456 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2022

## TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS THROUGH RAILWAYS

## 2456.   SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Railways  are  the most  used  mode  of  trafficking  of  drugs  domestically,  if  so, whether the Railways has recognised the major routes of drug trafficking domestically;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has launched any special action plan to  mitigate  the domestic  trafficking  of  drugs  through  the Railways,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2456 BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.12.2022 REGARDING TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS THROUGH RAILWAYS

(a) to (c): Railways is one of the modes of trafficking of drugs across the country  used  by  traffickers  in  illegal  trade  of  Narcotics,  Drugs  and Psychotropic  Substances  (NDPS).    'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State subjects  under  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India  and, therefore,  State  Governments  are  responsible  for  prevention,  detection, registration and investigation of crime and maintenance of law and order on  Railways  including  drug  trafficking  through  their  law  enforcement agencies viz.  Government Railway  Police  (GRP)/District  Police/  Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)/State Excise etc.

During the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 (upto Nov), 4556 cases have been registered under NDPS Act by  concerned Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) with arrest of 2125 persons and recovery of Narcotics worth ₹ 66.53 Crores (approx) over Indian Railways.

The areas and routes prone to drug trafficking are dynamic in nature and keep on changing. Based on regular analysis, such vulnerable routes are identified  regularly  and  effective  preventive  measures  taken  to  control drug trafficking in coordination with all stakeholders.

Indian Railways are making sincere efforts to curb drug trafficking through their network and a focused drive i.e. 'Operation NARCOS' is undertaken by  RPF  to  take  action  against  trafficking  of  Drugs  via  Railways.  The Government of India through its notification no.1403 dated 11.04.2019 has authorized officers of Railway Protection Force to arrest, search and seize

Narcotics  drugs  under  NDPS  Act.    The  Narcotics  drugs  seized  and suspects  arrested  by  RPF  under  NDPS  Act  are  handed  over  to  the  LEAs empowered  to  register  the  cases  &  investigate  them.    For  review  and coordination among  various  Central  and  State Agencies, the  Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meetings are held periodically.

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