Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to combat drug trafficking during the inauguration of the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) zonal unit office in Raipur on August 25, 2024. Shah highlighted the dual threat posed by drugs, noting their destructive impact on youth and their potential to undermine national security.
In his remarks, Shah asserted that drugs not only jeopardize the well-being of the younger generation but also threaten national stability by funding terrorism and extremism. “To effectively combat this issue, we need to tackle the entire drug trafficking network with a thorough and strategic approach,” he stated.
Shah stressed the importance of a “Top to Bottom” strategy to dismantle the drug network. He called for collective action and adherence to a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, emphasizing that establishing NCB offices across all states will be a critical step in achieving a drug-free India.
He also outlined four key principles for addressing the drug problem: detecting drugs, dismantling the network, detaining perpetrators, and rehabilitating addicts. Shah noted a significant increase in drug-related cases and arrests over the past decade, reflecting a 230% rise in case registrations and a substantial increase in arrests from 2004 to 2024.
The event was attended by several high-profile officials, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, and Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai.
