See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *239
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4TH AUGUST, 2026/ SHRAVANA 13, 1948 (SAKA)
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS
*239. SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that drug networks have now reached
schools and colleges, devastating the younger generation;
(b) if so, the stringent actions that are being taken under a 'Zero Tolerance'
policy to deter drug traffickers;
(c) the details of the special action plan formulated by the Ministry and
intelligence agencies to permanently dismantle the illicit supply of drugs
operating through online platforms and the 'Dark Net' around educational
institutions;
(d) whether the Government proposes to introduce stricter amendments to
the law to freeze the assets of consumers, distributors, and international
syndicates and to ensure non-bailable, long-term imprisonment for them and
if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the time-bound national program the Government intends
to implement to create mandatory 'Drug-Free Zones' within a 500-meter
radius of educational institutions to protect the country's future?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.-2-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-*239 FOR
04.08.2026 REGARDING ZERO TOLERANCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS
(a) & (b) In view of the increasing challenges of illegal narcotics trade and
drug abuse, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with concerned
State and Union Territory Police, continues to undertake intelligence-led
operations and preventive measures to protect youth from the menace of
drugs. Various stringent actions taken under a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy to
deter drug traffickers are as under: -
(i) To address the challenge of illicit drug trafficking & abuse of drugs,
Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) has been released
on 26.06.2026, which lays down a 3-year road map with clear priorities
and time bound targets to be achieved by various stakeholders to
control drugs with ‘Whole-of-Government’ & ‘Whole-of-Society’
approach.
(ii) NCB, Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) and State Police are
actively engaged in enforcement activity under the Narcotics Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. These concerted
efforts have resulted in significant achievements in term of drug
seizures, registration of cases, arrests, disposal of seized drugs,
destruction of illicit cultivation, financial investigations and preventive
detention under Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988.-3-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
(iii) Established a 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism
for ensuring better coordination between Central & State Drug Law
Enforcement Agencies and other stake holders in the field of
controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India.
(iv) An NCORD portal has been developed by NCB. It is an all in one portal
for information related to drug law enforcement. Topics like NCORD,
Training & Capacity Building, Narco-offenders data, legal information,
exemplary initiatives taken by states etc are covered on the NCORD
portal.
(v) To monitor the investigation of significant and important drug cases
including cases of narco-terrorism, a Joint Coordination Committee
(JCC) with DG, NCB as its Chairman has been set up. So far, 11 JCC
meetings at the Central level and 75 JCC meetings at the State level
have been conducted.
(vi) All Director General of Police (DGPs) of States/UTs have been
requested for sensitization of beat constables, field officers and SHOs
regarding Red Flag Indicators (RFI) and emerging threats relating to
clandestine manufacturing of synthetic drugs, particularly Mephedrone
and Amphetamine-type Stimulants (ATS).
(vii) NCB has been regularly coordinating with other agencies like Excise,
Border Security Force (BSF), State ANTF etc. to conduct joint
operations to control the drug trafficking.-4-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
(viii) Financial investigations and effective implementation of the PITNDPS
is being regularly emphasized at forums viz. NCORD, JCC, Regional
Conference for dismantling and weakening of organized synthetic drug
trafficking networks.
(ix) Comprehensive guideline on financial investigation, facilitating
systematic identification, tracing and attachment of proceeds of crime
have been issued.
(x) For the capacity building of Drug Law Enforcement Officers and
Agencies, NCB organizes workshops/ seminars/ training programmes.
NCB is regularly conducting specialised training programmes on
investigation of clandestine laboratories and precursor chemical
diversion in collaboration with the United States-Drug Enforcement
Administration (US-DEA), with participation of officers from Central
Agencies and State DLEAs.
(xi) India holds regular Director General (DG) Level/Bilateral talks on drug
related matters with countries such as Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri
Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, United States of America (USA).
(xii) NCB has strengthened international cooperation in drug control
through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and Memorandum of
Understanding (MoUs) with 19 countries.-5-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
(xiii) A National Narcotics Helpline "मादक-पदार्थ निषेध आसूचिा कें द्र" (MANAS) was
launched as a 24x7, toll-free National Narcotics Call Centre. MANAS
has been envisioned as an integrated system providing a single
platform for citizens to log, register and resolve drug related
issues/problems through various mode of communications like call
(1933), e-mail, web portal & UMANG mobile app.
(xiv) Launched "Mission Drug Free Campus" in various educational
institutions, universities all over India, in which special focus is being
given to the youth and they are being sensitized about the importance
of drug free campuses.
(c) As domain specific initiatives, Government through NCB has adopted
an intelligence-led and technology driven approach to identify and dismantle
drug trafficking networks operating through online platforms, encrypted
communication applications and the Darknet. The steps taken in this regard
are as under:
i. Strengthened capabilities to counter technology enabled drug
trafficking by engaging cyber experts to investigate darknet enabled
drug trafficking and cryptocurrency-based transactions.
ii. To enhance the technical expertise of enforcement personnel, NCB,
in collaboration with the US-DEA and Rashtriya Raksha University-6-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
(RRU), Gandhinagar, has conducted several capacity building
programmes for officers of NCB and other Drug Law Enforcement
Agencies (DLEAs) on cyber enabled narcotics investigations, digital
forensics, darknet monitoring, cryptocurrency investigations and
other emerging technologies used in drug trafficking.
Furthermore, the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029)
has been released on 26.06.2026 envisages the establishment of dedicated
Darknet and Cryptocurrency Cells in all Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs),
adoption of advanced technologies and AI-enabled analytics, research,
capacity building of agencies and enhanced inter-agency coordination to
dismantle organized cyber enabled drug trafficking networks.
(d) The administration of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
(NDPS) Act, 1985 lies with the Department of Revenue. The Government
undertakes periodic reviews of the provisions of the NDPS Act, taking into
account judicial pronouncements, implementation experience, and gaps
identified by enforcement agencies and stakeholders. Based on such
reviews and keeping in view emerging challenges, amendments to the Act
are proposed wherever considered necessary. This forms part of the
Government’s continuous legislative review process to ensure that the
statutory framework remains effective, contemporary and responsive to
evolving requirements.-7-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *239 FOR 04.08.2026
(e) The Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) inter-alia has
focused on creating Drug Free Campus (+500 meter) around educational
institutions. Further, consent-based screening Test for students as part of
student wellness programme is also proposed in the Vision Document at
Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions. The initiative forms part
of the three-year, time bound roadmap under the Vision Document, which
also promotes Drug Free Campuses, preventive education, awareness
programmes, counselling and community participation to create a safe and
drug-free environment in educational institutions.
******