New Delhi, Anti-drugs trafficking agencies will launch a year-long national enforcement drive from September to apprehend absconding narcotics offenders, inspect medical shops for diversion of pharmaceutical drugs and prisons as part of an action plan to dismantle syndicates dealing in drugs trafficking.
New Initiative Targets Youth Engagement and Drug Prevention
Officials have announced an action plan that includes special fortnights aimed at engaging youth in sports activities. Additionally, the plan features a drug-free campus verification exercise in educational institutions. Training will also be provided for anti-narcotics government agents to enhance their capabilities in monitoring the darknet, cryptocurrency, synthetic drugs, and clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories.
Beginning October, the NCB along with the state and Union Territories Anti-Narcotics Task Forces will inspect medical stores and pharmacies in coordination with jurisdictional drug controllers to check diversion of pharma drugs for narcotics trafficking. The Narcotics Control Bureau has recently written to all the states and various central agencies tasked to fight drug crimes asking them to undertake 24 different special drives that will run for a fortnight each till August next year, officials told PTI on Sunday. the enforcement action drives will begin from September which includes a fortnight where foreigners who indulge in drug crimes will be identified across the country for deportation while the next 15-day drive will target absconding narcotics offenders, according to the action plan While an awareness program for students in schools and colleges is ongoing since August 16.
The action plan, according to the officials, will subsequently suggest separate fortnights for preparation of dossiers against drug crime fugitives, creating awareness among coastal communities on maritime drug trade and coordinated checks at all land, sea and airports in the second-half of December.
