NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired the ninth apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, reviewing India’s strategy to tackle drug trafficking and substance abuse.During the meeting, Shah said the government plans to launch a nationwide campaign against drugs from March 31, 2026, for a period of three years. He said the initiative would involve action on multiple fronts and aim to accelerate efforts towards making India drug-free.Shah said all central government departments should prepare a roadmap extending up to 2029, along with a monitoring mechanism, to address the drug problem in a comprehensive manner. He described the drug challenge as being closely linked to narco-terrorism rather than a routine law-and-order issue, calling it a threat to the country’s future generations.He noted that drug abuse affects the health, thinking ability and performance of young people, and contributes to social unrest. Stressing the importance of public outreach, Shah said sustained awareness efforts were essential to prevent drug use.According to the home minister, the government’s approach rests on three pillars: strict action to disrupt drug supply chains, strategic measures to reduce demand, and a humane response to address harm among users. He said there should be no leniency towards those involved in manufacturing and selling drugs, while individuals who have begun using drugs should be dealt with sensitively.Shah emphasised the need to strengthen command, compliance and accountability, adding that the focus should be on outcomes and impact rather than the number of meetings held. He said action against kingpins, financiers and logistics networks of the drug trade should be regularly reviewed, along with efforts to improve conviction rates through the use of FSL and timely filing of charge sheetsHe also flagged changes in drug distribution and payment methods, calling for strategies to be updated from time to time. Shah said state police forces would form permanent teams in mission mode, with greater use of intelligence inputs and artificial intelligence.The home minister also inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Amritsar office.
