Srinagar/New Delhi: As much as 66,595 kilograms of drugs under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were seized in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years, BJP led Government of India informed Parliament.
Replying to a query, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, in a written reply informed that in 2020, 26,111.483 kg of opium-based drugs, 1,001.316 kg of cannabis-based drugs, 247 kg of psychotropic substances, 40,890.11 litres of medicinal preparations, and 1.554 kg of other drugs were seized in the region.
In 2021, 19,930.958 kg of opium-based drugs, 2,066.401 kg of cannabis-based drugs, 0.018 kg of cocaine, 8.65 kg of psychotropic substances, 76.387 litres of medicinal preparations, and 76.387 kg of other drugs were seized in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
In 2022, 15,326.701 kg of opium-based drugs, 1,631.939 kg of cannabis-based drugs, 11.169 kg of psychotropic substances, 956.1 litres of medicinal preparations, and 184.4 kg of other drugs were seized in Jammu and Kashmir, the MoS informed.
The Government of India has taken several measures to coordinate with international agencies and neighbouring countries to deal with cross-border drug trafficking. Some of these measures include Director General Level Talks with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, to resolve various issues related to drug trafficking with international implications, he said.
A high-level dedicated group has been created in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to analyze drug trafficking through maritime routes, challenges, and solutions (Maritime Security Group – NSCS). The Indian Coast Guard has been empowered under the Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, to interdict narcotic drugs in coastal and high seas, he added.
(KNO)