Raipur, 25 August 2024// Union Home and Cooperation Minister  Amit Shah virtually inaugurated the zonal office of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur on Sunday.

The office is located on the third floor of the Central Secretariat building in Sector-24 of Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.

After inaugurating the NCB’s office from a hotel in Nava Raipur,  Amit Shah chaired a review meeting on the situation of narcotics substance in Chhattisgarh. On this occasion, many dignitaries including Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh  Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State for Home  Nityanand Rai, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh  Vijay Sharma, Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director General, NCB, Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh and Director General of Police were present.

Union Home Minister said, “Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s resolution to make a drug-free country in the centenary year of India’s independence in 2047 is now becoming the resolution of every countryman.”

Shah said that the resolution of a drug-free India is very important for the creation of a prosperous, safe and glorious India. He added that narcotics substance is a global problem and requires collective efforts to uproot its presence.

Union Home Minister  Amit Shah said that wiping out drugs from society is no less than a battle, we can counter drug menace and uproot its presence from India with holistic approach including intensity, seriousness and a complete strategy. Illegal narcotics trade in India is also threat to national security and the money involved from illegal drug trade promotes terrorism, left wing extremism and weakens country’s economy, he added.  Shah expressed his concern for young generation, who requires a better India and lead with responsibility.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister asserted that everyone should move forward on the policy of zero tolerance against narcotics and fulfill Modi ji’s resolve of a drug-free India. He said that NCB’s zonal office will play an important role in controlling narcotics not only in the state but in the entire region.

Union Home Minister  Shah said that our aim is to have the presence of NCB in every state of the country. He said that the Modi government will establish NCB offices in every state and end the drug trade with the cooperation of the state governments.

Highlighting the rising graph of narcotics substance, Union Home Minister said that the currently there is shift in trend of drug trafficking it has changed from natural to synthetic drugs. The consumption of sedative use in Chhattisgarh is 1.45 % which is more than the national average and the use of Cannabis is also 4.98 % which is more than the national average.  Amit Shah emphasized on the use of scientific methods in the investigation of drug smuggling cases.

“We need to dismantle the entire supply chain of drug trafficking, from cultivation and manufacturing to smuggling and retail distribution in ruthless manner,” said  Shah.

Shah asserted that unless we attack the entire network, we will not be able to achieve the goal of a drug-free India.

Union Home Minister said that the person who uses drugs is a victim, while the one who trades in it is a criminal. We can be successful in this fight only by following the four principles including detection of drugs, destruction of the network, detention of the culprit and rehabilitation of the addict. He said that we will get complete success only by adopting a holistic approach of government in the fight against drugs.

Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the achievement of NCB in the last 10 years has been commendable. He informed that from the year 2004 to 2014, a total of 1,250 cases were registered, whereas in the 10 years from 2014 to 2024, a total 4,150 cases were registered with an increase of 230 percent. Whereas between 2004 and 2014, a total of 1,360 arrests were made which has now increased to 6,300. Similarly, between 2004 and 2014, 1.52 lakh kilograms of drugs were seized, whereas between 2014 and 2024, 5.43 lakh kilograms of drugs were seized with an increase of 257 percent. The value of drugs seized between 2004 and 2014 was Rs 5,900 crore while the value of drugs seized between 2014 and 2024 is Rs 22,000 crore. Mr Shah said that under an organized approach led by Prime Minister Modi, we have been successful in bringing the fight against drugs to a conclusion in 10 years. He said that to achieve Prime Minister Modi’s goal of a drug-free India, this fight will have to be made a ‘people’s movement’ by creating awareness against drugs among the youth and general public of the country.

The Union Home Minister stressed the need to hold regular meetings at all four levels under the Narco Coordination Mechanism. He said that the recently launched ‘MANAS’ portal should be used by all.  Shah said that the states can take help of Government of India’s agencies for financial investigation in drug cases. Home Minister also stressed the need for regular use of the Joint Coordination Committee. He said that inter-state cases should be handed over to the NCB to dismantle the entire network of drugs.