New Delhi
The Center has approved setting up of six new zonal offices of the Narcotics Control Bureau in places like Port Blair, Dimapur, Aizawl, Shimla, Shillong and Gangtok, near the international border with an aim to curb drug trafficking, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
The move to significantly expand its regional and zonal network, create hundreds of additional new posts and approve a dedicated Prosecution Directorate as part of measures to strengthen the country’s anti-narcotics agency, is significant against the backdrop of the Center launching a three-year targeted drug drive with a target of making India drug-free by 2047. The NCB has identified various border zones through which drugs are smuggled into India and opened regional, zonal and sub-zonal offices to launch the targeted drive. a job.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said six new district offices have been approved in Port Blair, Dimapur, Aizawl, Shimla, Shillong and Gangtok. He said the number of regional offices has increased from three to seven with the addition of offices in Amritsar, Guwahati, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Rai said the number of zonal offices has increased from 13 to 30 across the country by adding new offices in Gorakhpur, Siliguri, Agartala, Itanagar and Raipur, and by upgrading 12 existing sub-districts to zonal offices.
“In addition, 10 field offices have been approved and operational. 568 new posts have been created in the approved strength of the National Central Bureau. Approval in principle has also been given for the establishment of a dedicated Directorate of Prosecution within the Bureau. In addition, 36 prosecutors have been appointed to the regional and zonal offices to add value to effective prosecution efforts.”
He said measures taken by the government to check and prevent illicit drug trafficking include issuance of the Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029), establishment of a four-tier Coordination Center for Narcotics (NCORD) mechanism, establishment of a Joint Coordination Committee to monitor major drug cases, conducting financial investigations under the PITNDPS Act, specialized training programs for law enforcement agencies, and strengthening international cooperation through bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to make India drug-free by 2047, a goal that Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated on multiple occasions. Vision documents – a three-year plan for 2026 and 2029, according to the government, sets out responsibilities, timelines and measurable targets for all stakeholders while integrating enforcement, demand reduction, rehabilitation, public awareness, capacity building and inter-agency coordination.
