Bilateral Pacts to Fight Drug Trafficking

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    India is party to 26 bilateral pacts to fight drug trafficking.

    About

    • India has signed 26 bilateral pacts, 15 memoranda of understanding and 2 agreements with different countries and international organisations to share information and   security cooperation.
    • These are  signed for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic, drugs and psychotropic substances, besides chemical precursors.

    Latest Developments

    • Seizure Information Management System(SIMS):
      • For digitisation of pan-India drug seizure data, the MHA has launched an e-portal called ‘SIMS’ in 2019 for all the drug law enforcement agencies under the mandate of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS)
    • Border Strengthening for surveillance:
      • Various other organizations have also been empowered under the NDPS Act for making drug seizures, like:
        • Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, 
        • the Border Security Force, 
        • Sashastra Seema Bal, 
        • Indian Coast Guard, 
        • Railway Protection Force 
        • the National Investigation Agency. 
      • It has been done for preventing cross-border drug smuggling
      • The forces are using the latest gadgets and equipment

    Significance

    • Gradual increase is seen in the registration of a number of drug trafficking cases in the country. This has happened due to:
      • Sharp vigilance, 
      • effective surveillance, 
      • public cooperation, 
      • source-based intelligence, 
      • sensitisation of field officials 
    • Better coordinated results are being promoted by deploying various mechanisms, like:
      • The Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was set up by the MHA in 2016 
      • It was set up for effective drug law enforcement and cooperation between centre and state agencies.
      •  This NCORD system has been restructured into a four-tier scheme up to district level on July 29, 2019, for better coordination.

    Way Ahead

    • International cooperation: Foster international cooperation for fighting the enduring problem of drug trafficking. The development of international accountability mechanisms and best practices would greatly increase interception capacity. 
    • Global monitoring: Enhance expert access to the dark web in order to take down online markets and platforms. Implement real-time data monitoring systems for promptly detecting and addressing drug market changes. 
    • People-centred Approach: Implement an integrated, people-centred and human-rights based approach to empowering African societies to develop sustainable solutions to drug use.
    • Public-private partnerships: Improve government response to drug trafficking on the internet by forging public/private partnerships with internet service providers, tech companies, shipping and mailing companies. 
    • Awareness-raising and communication: Use fact-based information to raise awareness of the potential harm from non-medical use of cannabis. Need to close the gap between perception and reality by educating young people and safeguarding public health.

    Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

    • It was set up as an apex drug law enforcement agency with a view to coordinate actions of various central/state agencies in the matters related with drug law in the country.
    • Administrative Control: Ministry of Home Affairs
    • The Narcotics Control Bureau was established in March 1986 in terms of Section 4 (3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
    • Charter for the Bureau:
      • Coordination of actions by various officers, State Governments and other authorities under the principal Act, the Customs Act, 1962, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and any other law for the time being in force in connection with the enforcement of the principal Act.
      • Implementation of the obligations in respect of counter-measures against illicit traffic under various international conventions.
      • Assistance to the concerned authorities in foreign countries and concerned international organizations with a view to facilitating coordination and universal action for prevention and suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
      • Coordination of actions taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Welfare and other concerned Ministries,Departments or Organisations in respect of matters relating to drug abuse.
    • In accordance with its charter, the Bureau discharges the following functions:-
      • Coordination among various Central and State Agencies engaged in drug law enforcement;
      • Assisting States in enhancing their drug law enforcement effort;
      • Collection and dissemination of intelligence;
      • Analysis of seizure data, study of trends and modus operandi;
      • Preparation of National Drug Enforcement Statistics;
      • Liaison with International agencies such as UNDCP, INCB, INTERPOL, Customs Cooperation Council, RILO etc;
      • National contact point for intelligence and investigations

    Sources: TH

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