RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve of a drug-free India is now becoming the vow of every citizen of the country, Union home minister Amit Shah said in Raipur on Sunday.
Illegal trade of narcotics is a threat to the nation, and the money earned from this crime is used to promote terrorism and Naxalism, and to weaken the nation’s economy, the home minister said.
Ordering a ruthless crackdown, Shah instructed officials to seize the properties of drug dealers without hesitation. “Unless we demolish the entire network or chain, we cannot control the illegal trade of narcotics. It’s an international problem. In India, we need to create more awareness and fight against it. I would say some nations have lost the battle against the illegal trade of narcotics. We need to use scientific methods in the investigation,” Shah said after virtually inaugurating the regional office of Narcotics Control Bureau in Raipur.
E-commerce platforms are being used for drug trafficking, and drones are being used to deliver drugs, he said, adding Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have become transit routes for Ganja smuggling. Those who consume drugs are victims of the system, while those who trade in drugs are criminals, Shah said, adding narcotics not only destroys youths’ lives but also poses a threat to national security.
He then cited Modi’s resolve to make the nation free from addiction by 2047 when India will celebrate “Azadi Ka Shatabdi Samaroh”, adding a coordinated effort was required to achieve this goal.
Shah said the trend of drug trafficking is changing from natural to synthetic drugs that are available in small quantities but are “expensive and more harmful than natural drugs”.
In Chhattisgarh, sedative use has been reported more than the national average at 1.45%, he said, pointing out that since Chhattisgarh shares a boundary with seven states, it makes the challenge tougher. Chhattisgarh reported ‘ganja’ consumption at over 4.9%, which is much higher than the national average of 2.8%, the home minister said, calling it a concern for the state.
Illegal trade of narcotics is a threat to the nation, and the money earned from this crime is used to promote terrorism and Naxalism, and to weaken the nation’s economy, the home minister said.
Ordering a ruthless crackdown, Shah instructed officials to seize the properties of drug dealers without hesitation. “Unless we demolish the entire network or chain, we cannot control the illegal trade of narcotics. It’s an international problem. In India, we need to create more awareness and fight against it. I would say some nations have lost the battle against the illegal trade of narcotics. We need to use scientific methods in the investigation,” Shah said after virtually inaugurating the regional office of Narcotics Control Bureau in Raipur.
E-commerce platforms are being used for drug trafficking, and drones are being used to deliver drugs, he said, adding Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have become transit routes for Ganja smuggling. Those who consume drugs are victims of the system, while those who trade in drugs are criminals, Shah said, adding narcotics not only destroys youths’ lives but also poses a threat to national security.
He then cited Modi’s resolve to make the nation free from addiction by 2047 when India will celebrate “Azadi Ka Shatabdi Samaroh”, adding a coordinated effort was required to achieve this goal.
Shah said the trend of drug trafficking is changing from natural to synthetic drugs that are available in small quantities but are “expensive and more harmful than natural drugs”.
In Chhattisgarh, sedative use has been reported more than the national average at 1.45%, he said, pointing out that since Chhattisgarh shares a boundary with seven states, it makes the challenge tougher. Chhattisgarh reported ‘ganja’ consumption at over 4.9%, which is much higher than the national average of 2.8%, the home minister said, calling it a concern for the state.