New Delhi, Sep 22: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called for a coordinated nationwide campaign against drug trafficking, setting December 31, 2029 as the target for eliminating the illegal drug trade from India.Shah was speaking at the inauguration of the third national conference of the heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) of states and Union Territories in New Delhi.
The two-day conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), is being attended by ANTF chiefs from 36 states and Union Territories, besides representatives of various government departments and other stakeholders.
Shah said the government has prepared a Vision Document 2026-2029 after consultations with more than 35 departments and stakeholders. The document provides targets and timelines for agencies involved in combating narcotics.He said the Centre and states need to work together to prevent drugs from entering India and ensure that the country does not become a transit route for narcotics destined for other countries.
The Home Minister stressed that agencies should shift their focus from merely recovering drugs to dismantling the networks responsible for their production, financing, transportation and distribution.
He called for investigations covering the entire supply chain, including financial transactions and digital connections. According to him, enforcement agencies should examine both the source and downstream distribution of narcotics.
Shah said drug cartels should be targeted at three levels — entry points, interstate distribution systems and local networks operating within districts.The government also plans to classify districts into three broad categories based on their role in the drug trade: areas associated with drug production or entry, transportation corridors and places facing drug consumption-related challenges.
The Home Minister highlighted emerging threats such as synthetic drugs, diversion of precursor chemicals, darknet platforms, cryptocurrency transactions, new communication technologies and unconventional delivery systems. He called for specialised teams in every state to develop expertise in these areas.
He also emphasised the importance of strengthening prosecution and financial investigations and bringing fugitives allegedly involved in supplying drugs to India from abroad before Indian courts through appropriate legal mechanisms.Shah said the fight against narcotics must involve all levels of government and law enforcement. He called for ANTF inputs to be converted into actionable intelligence and incorporated into the regular functioning of state police forces.
The minister also highlighted the preventive side of the campaign. Under the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative, 46,780 Nasha Mukt Mitras have been registered so far against a target of one lakh. These volunteers are expected to spread awareness about drug abuse in schools, colleges and other institutions.
During the conference, Shah launched a television campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about the dangers of drugs. He also unveiled the redesigned NCB website and laid the foundation stones for new NCB zonal complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun.
Best-performing ANTFs from states and Union Territories were also recognised during the event.Shah said the Centre’s objective is to transform the anti-narcotics system from a meeting- and seizure-focused mechanism into one driven by missions, measurable results and successful prosecution.
The conference is expected to strengthen coordination between the NCB, state and Union Territory ANTFs and other agencies as they work on strategies to tackle drug trafficking and reduce drug abuse over the next three years.
