Narcotics seizure increased 300% in 5-years, 3.6L-kgs seized in 2017
Seizure of narcotic drugs in the country has increased by more than 300 percent in the last five years with 2017 witnessing the highest seizure of over 3.6 lakh kg of narcotics, said an NCB report. Last year, 2,551 kgs of opium, 2,146 kgs of heroin, 3,52,379 kgs of cannabis, 3,218 kgs of hashish and 69 kgs of cocaine were seized.
Maximum cases of interdiction of illegal drugs were in 2017
While the last year saw the total narcotic seizures at over 3.60 lakh kgs, it was 3.01 lakh kgs in 2016, over 1 lakh kgs in 2015, 1.1 lakh kgs in 2014 and about 1 lakh kgs in 2013, said the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The year gone by also saw the maximum number of cases of interdiction of these illegal drugs since 2013.
High seizure of drugs result of increased awareness, enhanced capabilities
NCB officials attributed the high seizure of these drugs in the last year to increased awareness and enhanced capabilities of drug law enforcement agencies to interdict illegal cache. "Not only in the last five years, the seizures in the years prior to that were no match to what has been recovered and seized in 2017," a senior official said.
Maximum opium seizure was made from Punjab
Among the states last year, the maximum opium seizure was made from Punjab at 505.86 kgs followed by Rajasthan at 426.95 kgs. In heroin seizure, Gujarat topped at 1,017 kgs followed by Punjab at 406 kgs. Cannabis seizure was the highest in Andhra Pradesh at 78,767 kgs followed by Odisha at 55,875 kgs during 2017.
NCB report mentioned smuggling and trafficking of illegal drugs
Uttar Pradesh accounted for the maximum hashish (charas) seizure at 702 kgs followed by Madhya Pradesh at 625 kgs. Meanwhile, national capital Delhi registered the highest seizure of cocaine at 30 kgs followed by Maharashtra at 21.83 kgs. The report also talked about trends for 2017 witnessed in smuggling and trafficking of these illegal drugs.
National anti-drug agency NCB functions under MHA
The latest NCB report was brought out after compiling data from all states and agencies and was unveiled by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday. The NCB is the national agency to coordinate drug law enforcement activities in the country by involving various state agencies, police and central departments. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
