Ranchi, Aug 21: Stronger coordination and faster information sharing among maritime and law enforcement agencies are essential to counter drug trafficking through India’s sea routes, an Indian Coast Guard officer said during a national webinar on Friday.The webinar on “Tackling Drug Trafficking via Maritime Route in India: Techniques and Challenges” was organised by the Department of Criminology and Police Science of Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University (JRSU) in association with the Ranchi Local Chapter of the Indian Society of Criminology.
Assistant Commandant Arvind R of the Indian Coast Guard’s 848 Squadron, Puducherry, was the chief speaker at the programme.Addressing participants, Arvind highlighted India’s extensive coastline and its strategic location between regions associated with major international drug trafficking networks.He discussed the security challenges linked to the Golden Crescent, comprising Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, and the Golden Triangle, covering parts of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
The officer stressed that trafficking networks operating through maritime routes require a coordinated response involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, Coast Guard, state marine police and intelligence agencies.
He emphasised the importance of timely intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to detect and disrupt trafficking networks before consignments reach their intended destinations.The webinar also covered the implementation of provisions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with the use of aerial surveillance and other modern enforcement techniques.
The concept of hot pursuit was also discussed as part of the operational measures available to enforcement agencies dealing with maritime threats.The programme was coordinated by JRSU’s Department of Criminology and Police Science, with Head of the Department Dr J Shashikant serving as coordinator.
Academicians, researchers, police personnel and students associated with security studies from different parts of the country participated in the webinar.The discussions focused on strengthening India’s maritime security framework and improving cooperation among agencies involved in preventing the illegal movement of narcotic substances through sea routes.
