Lok Sabha Question No. 4988 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Steps to check Drug Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4988

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 ST  APRIL, 2025/ CHAITRA 11, 1947 (SAKA)

STEPS TO CHECK DRUG TRAFFICKING

4988.     PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the serious issue of narcotics and chemical  drugs  among  the  citizens  of  the  country,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  considered  the  increasing  number  of killings, anti-social atrocities on women and children under the influence of various types of narcotics and chemical drugs in the country;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  of  such  incidents  during  the  last  five  years,  State  wise;
- (d)  whether the Government has taken any stringent steps to check the drug trafficking across the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any project to create India as 'Drug free Bharat' and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The cases registered, arrests made and quantity of drug seized under  Narcotic  Drugs  &  Psychotropic  Substances  (NDPS)  Act,  1985  by various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) as reported to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during 2020 to 2024 is at Annexure-I. The specific details of incidents regarding number of killings, anti-social   atrocities on

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

women and children under the influence of various types of narcotics and chemical drugs in the country are not maintained.

(d) & (e) As part of its drive against drug smuggling to make India a drug free  nation,  Government is  taking  various  measures,  some  of  which  are mentioned below: -

(i) The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, as amended from time to time contains stringent provision to deal with illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and controlled substances as defined under Section 2 (viiib). Further, Chapter IV  of  the  NDPS  Act,  1985  provides  detailed  provisions  for  offences committed  in  contravention  of  the  relevant  provisions  of  the  Act  and penalties thereto.

(ii) Considering  the  international  obligations  or  having  regard  to  the available information and evidence with respect to the nature and effects of  and  the  abuse  or  scope  for  abuse,  Department  of  Revenue  has scheduled  134  narcotic  drugs  under  section  2(xi)(b),  173  psychotropic substances under section 3 and 45 controlled substances under section 9A in order to  exercise  due  regulation,  control  or  prohibition  in  public

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

interest  while  ensuring  availability  of  narcotic  drugs  and  psychotropic substances  for medical  and scientific use subject to the relevant provisions to the NDPS Act and rules/ regulations made thereunder.

- (iii) A 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better  coordination  between  Central  &  State  Drug  Law  Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India has been established. An all in one NCORD portal has been developed for information related to drug law enforcement.
- (iv) A dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by Additional Director General/ Inspector General level Police Officer has been established  in  each  State/  Union  Territory  to  function  as  the  NCORD Secretariat for the State/ Union Territory and follow-up on compliance of decisions taken in NCORD meetings at different levels.
- (v) To monitor the investigation of important and significant seizures, a Joint  Coordination  Committee  (JCC)  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been set up by Government of India.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

- (vi) Border  Guarding  Forces  (Border  Security  Force,  Assam  Rifles  and Sashastra  Seema  Bal)  have  been  empowered  under  the  Narcotic  Drugs and  Psychotropic  Substances  (NDPS)  Act,  1985  to  carry  out  search, seizure and arrest for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs at international border. Further, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also been empowered under NDPS Act to check drug trafficking along the railway routes.

(vii) Narcotics  Control Bureau (NCB)  coordinates   with   other  agencies like,  Navy,  Coast  Guard,  Border  Security  Force,  State  ANTF,  etc.,  to conduct joint operations to control the drug trafficking.

(viii)  Electronics scanning of consignments for drug detection at all Ports are being ensured.

- (ix) Towards the capacity building of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of the country, NCB is continuously imparting training to the officers of other Drug Law Enforcement Agencies.
- (x) To strengthen NCB and to increase its pan India presence, 536 posts in  different  level  has  been  created  in  NCB.  During  this  restructuring,

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

special focus has been laid on cyber, legal, and enforcement aspects for more effective drug law enforcement.

(xi) A task force on Darknet and Crypto-Currency has been set up under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) mechanism with a focus on monitoring all platforms facilitating Narco-trafficking, sharing of inputs on drug trafficking amongst Agencies/MAC members, interception of drug networks, continuous capturing of trends, modus operandi & nodes with regular database updates and review of related rules & laws.

(xii) To  assist  all  DLEAs/other  investigation  agencies  for  investigation and proactive policing, National Integrated Database on Arrested NarcoOffenders (NIDAAN) portal  is  developed.  It  provides  data  of  narcotics offenders involved in narcotics offences under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

(xiii) A  National  Narcotics  Helpline  No.  1933  'Madak -Padarth  Nished Asoochna Kendra' (MANAS) has been created a s  24x7 toll-free  National Narcotics Call Centre helpline. Accordingly, MANAS has been envisioned as  an  integrated  system  providing  a  single  platform for citizens to log,

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

register,  track  and  resolve  drug  related  issues/problems through various modes of communication like call, SMS, Chat-bot, e-mail & web-link.

(xiv)  A high-level dedicated group has been created in National Security Council  Secretariat  (NSCS)  in  November  2022  to  analyze  the  drug trafficking  through  maritime  routes,  challenges  and  solutions  (Maritime Security Group -NSCS).

(xv) Director General level talks by NCB are organized with neighboring and  other  countries  such  as  Myanmar,  Iran,  Bangladesh,  Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. to resolve various issues on drugs trafficking having international implications and issue of maritime trafficking.

(xvi)  Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country through more than 10000 master volunteers. It has reached out to more than 14.79 crore people including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women.

(xvii) Government  is  providing  financial  assistance  to  350  Integrated Rehabilitation  Centers for  Addicts   (IRCAs),  46  Community  based  Peer

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4988 FOR 01.04.2025

Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, 74 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs), 142  Addiction  Treatment  Facilities  (ATFs),  124  District  De-addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.

(xviii) A  Toll-free  Helpline  No.14446  for  de-addiction  is  operated  for providing primary counseling and immediate  assistance to persons seeking help.

(xix)  Government  through  its  autonomous  body  National  Institute  of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational  Research  and Training (SCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), etc. provides for regular   awareness generation and sensitization  sessions  for  all  stakeholders  including  students,  teachers, parents.

(xx)  Navchetna Modules, Teachers Training Modules have been developed  by  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment  (MoSJE)  for sensitizing students (6th -11th standard),   teachers  and  parents  on  drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.

*****

****

LS USQ No. 4988 for 01.04.2025

Annexure-I

Cases  registered,  arrests  made  and  quantity  of  drug  seized  under  Narcotic  Drugs  & Psychotropic  Substances  (NDPS)  Act,  1985  by  various  Drug  Law  Enforcement  Agencies (DLEAs) as reported to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during 2020 to 2024

|   Year | Case     | Arrest   | Quantity (in Kg)   |
|--------|----------|----------|--------------------|
|   2020 | 55,622   | 73,841   | 10,82,511          |
|   2021 | 68,144   | 93,538   | 16,09,612          |
|   2022 | 1,02,769 | 1,26,516 | 12,53,662          |
|   2023 | 1,09,546 | 1,32,954 | 13,89,725          |
|   2024 | 89,913   | 1,16,098 | 13,30,600          |

Source: Narcotics Control Bureau