Drug Trafficking In The Country
Drug Trafficking In The Country
As per latest data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pertaining to the year 2022, the State/UT-wise number of Cases Registered (CR) under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), 1985 for possession of drugs for trafficking during 2020-2022 is at Annexure-I.
Use of Darknet, Crypto-currencies and parcel/couriers for drug trafficking have been noticed. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has booked 92 cases involving Dark net and Crypto-currencies whereas 1025 cases involving parcel/ couriers have been reported by all Drug Law Enforcement Agencies during the years 2020-2024 (till April). Details of number of cases year-wise is at Annexure- II.
The steps taken by the Government to reduce drug trafficking in the country are detailed below: –
To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and implemented the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse among the youth. This includes:
rehabilitation, screening, assessment, counselling, referral, linkage for treatment and rehabilitation services for substance users.
Annexure-I
State/UT-wise details of Cases Registered (CR) for drug trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 for the year 2020-2022
SL
State/UT
2020
2021
2022
1
Andhra Pradesh
602
1085
870
2
Arunachal Pradesh
36
45
71
3
Assam
501
1026
1509
4
Bihar
83
255
181
5
Chhattisgarh
815
1092
1085
6
Goa
70
64
91
7
Gujarat
191
261
297
8
Haryana
1277
1143
1612
9
Himachal Pradesh
1148
1089
1101
10
Jharkhand
172
280
260
11
Karnataka
956
1199
1229
12
Kerala
386
597
1660
13
Madhya Pradesh
1644
1959
2169
14
Maharashtra
647
1504
1544
15
Manipur
203
229
386
16
Meghalaya
53
36
48
17
Mizoram
50
65
149
18
Nagaland #
52
80
94
19
Odisha
1031
1459
1827
20
Punjab
4039
5766
7433
21
Rajasthan
1735
1971
2428
22
Sikkim
11
26
19
23
Tamil Nadu
1252
1909
2590
24
Telangana
245
624
524
25
Tripura
273
331
521
26
Uttar Pradesh
5889
4819
4920
27
Uttarakhand
607
280
206
28
West Bengal
1217
1376
1174
TOTAL STATE(S)
25185
30570
35998
29
A&N Islands
11
3
32
30
Chandigarh
134
89
182
31
D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu
1
0
0
32
Delhi
290
294
383
33
Jammu & Kashmir
933
1324
1443
34
Ladakh
0
3
5
35
Lakshadweep
0
1
1
36
Puducherry
6
18
20
TOTAL UT(S)
1375
1732
2066
TOTAL (ALL INDIA)
26560
32302
38064
Source: Crime in India, 2022, NCRB.
# Clarifications are pending from Nagaland for the year 2022
Annexure-II
Number of cases of Drug seizure involving Darknet, Crypto Currencies by Narcotics Control Bureau and Couriers/ parcel as reported by all Drug Law Enforcement Agencies:
Year
No of Cases involving Darknet & Cryptocurrency
No of cases involving Courier/ Parcels
2020
03
259
2021
49
250
2022
08
240
2023
21
241
2024 (Upto April)
11
35
TOTAL
92
1025
Source: Narcotics Control Bureau
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
- The Government has introduced and strengthened the 4 tier NCORD mechanism (Apex, Executive, State & District level) to have effective coordination of actions among various Ministries, Departments, Central and States Law Enforcement Agencies dealing with narcotics.
- Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by ADG/IG level Police Officer has been established in each State/UT.
- An NCORD portal has been developed which is an all-in-one portal for information related to drug law enforcement.
- The Government has launched 1933- MANAS Helpline designed as a unified platform for citizens to report the drug-related issues via multiple communication. It will work as an Interface with public for sharing inputs on Narcotic Crimes/ trafficking.
- To monitor the investigation of significant and important drug cases including cases of narco-terrorism, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) with DG, NCB as its Chairman has been set up.
- A Special Task Force on Darknet and Crypto Currency has been constituted to monitor suspicious transactions related to drugs on Darknet.
- BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard have been empowered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 to make interdiction of drugs along land and Sea border areas.
- To prevent Inter-State movement of narcotic drugs across the country by railway network, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also been empowered under NDPS Act, 1985.
- NCB has increased its Regional Offices from 03 to 07 and upgraded its Sub-Zones to Zones making a total of 30 Zonal Units across the country.
- A high level Multi Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG) has been created in National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to analyze the drug trafficking through maritime routes, challenges and solutions.
- Narcotics Control Bureau in association with Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) has created a portal called National Integrated Database About arrested NDPS Offenders (NIDAAN).
- With a view to bring uniformity in Drug Law Enforcement training across India, Narcotics Control Bureau in collaboration with other departments has developed a core module and five training modules. Training programmes on Digital Forensics, Darknet and Crypto currency are also being organized.
- Nar-K9 pool – a National Canine Pool has been established at 10 locations as a national resource to serve the interests of Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Units as well as cater to the requirements of the States and other Central agencies.