Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting to address the growing threat of synthetic drugs and their trafficking, particularly via the dark web. The meeting highlights the government's commitment to achieving a "Drug-Free India by 2047".
The conference, set to be inaugurated by Amit Shah on September 16, 2025, will bring together the heads of anti-narcotics task forces from 36 states and Union Territories. The agenda includes discussions on extradition of fugitives and trafficking through the dark web, along with six technical sessions. These sessions will focus on integrated investigation, tracking fugitives, precursor control, synthetic drugs, improving effectiveness in investigation and trials, dark web investigations, and global trafficking trends.
Amit Shah will also release the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) Annual Report-2024 and launch the Online Drug Disposal Campaign. The conference aims to bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a drug-free India by charting a strategic roadmap to achieve this goal. The two-day conference is themed "United Resolve, Shared Responsibility".
The rise of the dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplaces, and drones has presented new challenges to curbing drug trafficking. Amit Shah has stressed the need to check these channels through strict measures and find technical solutions through joint efforts by the states, the central government, and technocrats. He has also highlighted the importance of a "whole-of-government" approach and coordination between the Centre and States in combating drug trafficking.
The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, and Amit Shah's directive to establish dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in all states and UTs in 2021 was a significant step in this direction.
The Home Minister has pointed out the significant increase in drug seizures in recent years. There was a seven-fold increase in drugs seized between 2014 and 2024, compared to the previous decade. The NCB and police across the country seized drugs worth ₹16,914 crore in 2024, marking a significant step in creating a drug-free society.
Amit Shah has emphasized that the increased seizures reflect the success of enforcement agencies in cracking down on drug networks. He has urged states to utilize technology like geo-tagging, videography, and real-time data-sharing through platforms such as the National Narcotics Helpline 'MANAS' portal to enhance coordination and effectiveness in anti-drug operations and called for increased use of the NIDAAN database to track and tackle trafficking activities.
The Home Minister has also highlighted the importance of establishing more special NDPS courts for faster trials in narco-terrorism cases. He has stressed the need for an uncompromising fight against narcotics to safeguard future generations and has asserted that India will not allow even a single kilogram of drugs to be smuggled in or out of the country.
