New Delhi|Aug, 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that illicit trafficking of narcotics in India is severely impairing national security and the entire narcotics network needs to be dismantled with a ‘Top to Bottom and Bottom to Top approach’.
Shah said that money earned from illicit drug trade promotes terrorism and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and weakens the country’s economy and drugs not only ruin the country’s young generation but also weaken the country’s national security.
The Home Minister was speaking after virtually inaugurating the Zonal Unit Office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Raipur. He also chaired a review meeting on the Narcotics scenario in Chhattisgarh.
In his address, Shah said that the government’s resolve of a drug-free India by 2047, is today becoming the resolve of every citizen of the country, an official statement said.
Shah said, “Unless we attack the entire network, we will not be able to achieve the goal of a drug-free India which is significant for building a prosperous, safe and glorious India”.
Stating that drugs are not just India’s problem but a global menace, he underlined that, “If we fight the battle against drugs in India with intensity, seriousness and a comprehensive strategy, we can win this battle.
Shah said that everyone should move forward together on the zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and fulfil PM Modi’s resolve of a drug-free India.
“Today the Raipur Zonal Office of NCB has been inaugurated. This office will play an important role in controlling narcotics not only in the state but in the entire region. Our aim is to have the presence of NCB in every state of the country. Our government will end the drug trade by establishing NCB offices in every state with the cooperation of the state governments,” the Home Minister asserted.
He also expressed concern over the changing trend of drug trafficking and its moving from natural to synthetic drugs, and emphasized on the use of scientific methods in the investigation of drug-trafficking cases.
He said that we need to work with a ‘Top to Bottom and Bottom to Top’ approach and dismantle the entire network in a ruthless manner.
Stating that the user of drugs is a victim while the one who trades in it is a criminal, Shah said, “We can be successful in this fight only by following the four principles of detection of drugs, destruction of the network, detention of the culprit and rehabilitation of the addict. We will get complete success only by adopting a whole of Government approach in the fight against drugs”.
