NEW DELHI/SHIMLA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a high-profile meeting with CMs, Lieutenant Governors, and officials from northern states, charts out a an ambitious strategy to tackle drug trafficking.
The approach is three-pronged: cutting supply chains, reducing demand, and confiscating the wealth of drug traffickers.
It all sounds impressive on paper in speech. But is Bharat truly equipped to win this war on drugs?
Seizures Aren’t the Endgame
Shah announced record-breaking drug seizures worth ₹16,914 crore in 2024. He also promised to destroy 1,00,000 kilograms of confiscated drugs within 10 days. The scale is unprecedented.
However, criminal justice experts pointed out the missing link. “Seizures alone don’t solve the problem. What happens after the drugs are seized?
The conviction rate under the NDPS Act is abysmally low, barely 25-30% in many states. Without fixing prosecution and trial procedures, seizures are just numbers,” he said.
Advocates specializing in NDPS cases, highlighted another issue. “Most of the arrests under NDPS involve couriers or addicts.
The real kingpins rarely get caught. Investigations don’t go high enough up the chain. The big players are often shielded by political and bureaucratic complicity,” said advocates.
Himachal’s Grim Reality
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu joined the conference virtually, sharing some statistics.
NDPS cases in Himachal have risen by 340% over the past decade, from about 500 in 2012 to 2,200 in 2023. Heroin-related cases have doubled since 2020, now accounting for half of all arrests, he said.
The rise of synthetic drugs is even more alarming. “These drugs are cheaper to produce, more addictive, and harder to trace,” Sukhu warned.
Himachal’s borders with Punjab and Haryana have become key trafficking routes. The Chief Minister called for stronger interstate collaboration and intelligence-sharing to dismantle these networks.
Systemic Loopholes
Shah’s emphasis on technology, such as geotagging and advanced surveillance, is commendable. Yet experts argue that the roots of the problem also lie elsewhere.
The sociologists studying drug abuse, criticized India’s ports and airports as major weak links.
“Private ports and airports have become hotbeds for drug smuggling. Without tighter monitoring, cartels will continue exploiting these entry points".
The public health expert, said, “We need to address the demand side more rigorously".
"Public awareness campaigns are superficial unless backed by serious investments in rehabilitation centers. Right now, most rehab facilities in India are underfunded and understaffed.”
Himachal’s Action Plan
Despite its challenges, Himachal Pradesh has taken some concrete steps:
- Legal Reforms: The state has amended Section 37 of the NDPS Act to tighten bail provisions for habitual offenders.
- Asset Confiscation: Over ₹16 crore worth of drug traffickers’ property has been confiscated in the last three years.
- PIT-NDPS Act: Himachal has started invoking the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to detain repeat offenders.
- Special Task Force (STF): A dedicated narcotics task force with specialized resources and police stations is in the works.
Sukhu emphasized the need for a compassionate approach. “Addiction is an illness, not a crime. Punitive measures alone won’t work. We need robust rehabilitation frameworks,” he said.
Convictions and Accountability
Experts agree that conviction data is critical. A legal analyst, questioned the lack of transparency. “How many drug traffickers are actually convicted? If seizure figures are flaunted without conviction rates, it’s an incomplete story".
The Bigger Picture
Drug trafficking isn’t just a criminal issue. It overlaps with organized crime and terror funding, posing a direct threat to national security.
Yet India’s judicial infrastructure remains ill-equipped. NDPS courts are overloaded, and many cases drag on for years.
“There’s a serious manpower crunch,” said a retired narcotics officer. “We need more NDPS courts in states like Himachal, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. Without timely trials, the deterrent effect is lost.”
What Needs to Change
While Shah’s strategy has merits, significant gaps remain:
- Strengthening Ports and Airports: Private terminals must be tightly monitored to prevent smuggling.
- Conviction-Oriented Investigations: Law enforcement must focus on prosecuting kingpins, not just low-level couriers.
- Rehabilitation Focus: A nationwide network of modern rehabilitation centers is essential to curb demand.
- Global Collaboration: Trafficking is a transnational issue. India must strengthen ties with global agencies to track and dismantle international networks.
The Final Word
Amit Shah’s vision of a drug-free India is ambitious. “Without conviction data, systemic reforms, and a focus on the roots of the problem, this war on drugs is more smoke than fire.”
The battle against drugs requires more than slogans and seizures.
It demands systemic change, political will, and unwavering public participation. Only then can Bharat hope to secure its youth and future.
