Over the past year, more than 3,600 kilograms of drugs have been seized in freight containers at various ports across the country
Published Date – Monday, December 26, 22 at 12:30pm
Over the past year, more than 3,600 kilograms of drugs have been seized in freight containers at various ports across the country
The drug threat not only destroys individual lives and families, but also poses a serious threat to national security. Profits from drug smuggling are used to fund terrorism, weakening the economy. India’s location midway between South Asia’s two largest sources of illicit drugs — the Golden Crescent (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran) in the northwest and the notorious Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos) in the northeast — makes it more favored. Vulnerable to narcotics and drug trafficking. The NDA government’s much-touted zero-tolerance policy on drug threats must be made public on the ground. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently told Parliament that major criminals involved in drug smuggling will be jailed for the next two years and that he must walk the talk and deliver on his promises. The frequent seizures don’t appear to be deterring drug traffickers despite the increased presence of the Border Security Force (BSF) near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab state. Reports say the illicit drug trade has continued to flourish in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, which pledged to crack down on narcotics after coming to power last August. India has actively used multilateral platforms this year to promote a joint fight against terrorist financing. International cooperation is needed to punish countries that aid and abet drug terror. State-of-the-art counter-drone technology must be deployed to block aerial drug supply routes.
While cracking down on the drug trade across the board, government agencies need to distinguish between drug users and drug dealers. Drug users must be seen as victims and drug dealers should not be left alone. Law enforcement authorities need to adopt a similar sensibility in applying the draconian provisions of India’s anti-drug laws, where the burden of proof is often effectively shifted to the accused and bail is rarely granted. Research shows that arrests for personal consumption make up the majority of those held, many from marginalized backgrounds. Drug trafficking is a major transnational organized crime that endangers national security. The growing ties between drug smugglers and terrorist groups is worrying countries such as India. This complex security issue can be addressed through a comprehensive review of surveillance mechanisms and effective coordination between the Center and the states. The new trend of international criminal syndicates using container trade networks to traffic drugs poses a major challenge to law enforcement agencies in India and other countries in the region. Over the past year, more than 3,600 kilograms of drugs have been seized in freight containers at various ports in the country. In addition to more efficient coordination among various government agencies, real-time shipment data is critical to developing AI-based algorithms to pinpoint suspicious shipments.
