NCB has pacts with US, 45 other nations for global drug control: Nityanand Rai

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has strengthened international cooperation in drug control through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 19 countries, the Centre told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, in reply to a query, said that India holds regular Director General (DG) Level/bilateral talks on drug related matters with countries such as Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and the US.

Responding to questions by Naresh Ganpat Mhaske and Shrikant Shinde, Rai added that to address the challenge of illicit drug trafficking and abuse of drugs, Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) has been released on June 26, which lays down a three-year roadmap with clear priorities and time bound targets to be achieved by various stakeholders to control drugs with ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Society’ approach.

The MoS said the NCB has also established a four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central and state drug law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India.

The NCORD portal is an all-in-one portal for information related to drug law enforcement.

Topics like training and capacity building, narco-offenders’ data, legal information, exemplary initiatives taken by states are covered on the NCORD portal, MoS Rai added.

The Minister of State said that to monitor the investigation of significant and important drug cases, including cases of narco-terrorism, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) with NCB DG Anurag Garg as its Chairman has been set up.

So far, 11 JCC meetings at the Central level and 75 JCC meetings at the state level have been conducted.

The MoS said that all Director General of Police (DGPs) of states/Union Territories have been requested for sensitisation of beat constables, field officers and Station House Officers regarding Red Flag Indicators and emerging threats relating to clandestine manufacturing of synthetic drugs, particularly Mephedrone and Amphetamine-type Stimulants.

MoS Rai added that comprehensive guideline on financial investigation, facilitating systematic identification, tracing and attachment of proceeds of crime have also been issued.

–IANS

rch/khz