Amit Shah Highlights Challenges of Dark Web, Cryptocurrency, and Drones in Combating Drug Trafficking
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized on Saturday the pressing need to address emerging challenges such as the dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplaces, and drones in the fight against drug trafficking. He called for stringent measures and collaborative efforts to counter these issues while reiterating the government’s commitment to a drug-free India.
Chairing a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security,’ Shah asserted that the government would not tolerate even a single kilogram of drugs being smuggled into or out of the country. He highlighted the significant progress made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in dismantling drug networks and the associated threat of narco-terrorism, particularly in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.
“The use of dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplaces, and drones continues to pose significant challenges,” Shah remarked. He underscored the importance of technical solutions, developed through joint efforts by state and central governments, technocrats, and security experts, to address these threats effectively.
Shah credited the Modi government for revitalizing the nation’s fight against drugs. Over the past decade, drug seizures have increased sevenfold, reflecting the administration’s commitment to eradicating the drug menace. In 2024 alone, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and police forces across the country seized drugs worth ₹16,914 crore, a significant achievement in the ongoing battle against narcotics.
Statistics shared by Shah revealed the scale of progress: between 2004 and 2014, a total of 3.63 kg of drugs were seized. In contrast, from 2014 to 2024, an astounding 24 lakh kg of drugs were confiscated. Similarly, while drugs worth ₹8,150 crore were disposed of in the 2004-2014 period, the figure rose to ₹54,851 crore in the subsequent decade, an eightfold increase.
“No country can move forward with its young generation plagued by drug addiction,” Shah stated. He urged collective efforts to tackle this crisis and emphasized the need to protect the nation’s youth.
The conference, organized by the NCB, focused on the impact of drug trafficking on national security, particularly in eight northern states and Union Territories. Key topics discussed included enhancing real-time information sharing between the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ portal and state Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF), bolstering State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), and leveraging the NIDAAN database to strengthen anti-drug efforts.
Shah also launched a nationwide drug disposal fortnight, which will run from January 13 to January 25, during which one lakh kilograms of narcotics worth ₹8,600 crore will be destroyed. Additionally, he inaugurated the NCB’s new office complex for its Bhopal zonal unit and extended the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories.
Other initiatives discussed included expediting drug-related trials through special NDPS courts, implementing the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act provisions, and fostering inter-agency collaboration under a “Whole-of-Government” approach.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward drug trafficking, with the ultimate goal of creating a drug-free India by 2047. This mission involves a three-pronged strategy: strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing coordination among narcotics agencies, and launching widespread public awareness campaigns.
Governors, lieutenant governors, chief ministers, and senior officials from the participating states and Union Territories attended the conference, alongside representatives from central ministries and law enforcement agencies. Shah reaffirmed the government’s resolve to dismantle drug networks, enhance national security, and safeguard the future of the country’s youth.
