New Delhi, Jan 9 (JKNS): Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday chaired the 9th Apex-Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, asserting that the drug menace is not merely a law-and-order issue but a form of narco-terrorism aimed at destroying India’s future generations.
Union Home Minister also inaugurated Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Office at Amritsar on the occasion, as per news agency JKNS.
The meeting, being organized in hybrid mode by NCB was attended by key stakeholders from Central Government Ministries and Departments and representatives from state governments as well as Drug Law Enforcement Agencies.
In his address, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that in the fight against drugs, all departments of the Government of India should prepare a roadmap up to 2029 and establish a time-bound review mechanism for its implementation.
He said that this challenge is linked more to the issue of narco-terror than to law and order, and most importantly, it is a conspiracy to ruin the coming generations of the country. Shah said that the health of the youth, their ability to think and perform, and the growing discontent in society are all linked to this problem.
The Home Minister said that from March 31, 2026, we will all together launch a three-year collective campaign against this problem, in which the working methodology of all pillars against drug abuse will be defined, targets will be set, and time-bound reviews will be conducted.
Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the past 11 years, we have achieved considerable success in the fight against drugs, and after the reorganization of NCORD in 2019, we have also ensured the path to complete control over this problem. Now we have gained speed and will move forward with a three-pronged plan of action.
He said that only by adopting a collective ruthless approach towards the drug supply chain, a strategic approach towards demand reduction, and a humane approach towards harm reduction, will we be able to achieve the goal of a drug-free India.
Union Home Minister said that there has been an increase in the number of NCORD meetings, but there is a need to increase it further. He said that district-level and state-level meetings should be held regularly.
Shah said that the Government of India’s approach is very clear that there should be no compassion towards those who manufacture or sell drugs. He said that we should move forward with a humanitarian perspective towards the victims of drugs.
The Home Minister said that we must proceed in this fight only by strengthening command, compliance, and accountability. Now, instead of the number of meetings, we should review their outcomes. He said that strict action taken against the kingpins of the drug trade, financiers, and logistics routes should be the subject of our review.
Shah also said that we should include the utilization of Forensic Science Labs (FSL) and increasing the rate of timely filing of charge sheets and securing convictions in our targets. He said that a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach is extremely essential for investigating the entire drug network.
Amit Shah said that during 2004 to 2013, drugs worth ₹40,000 crore, amounting to 26 lakh kilograms, were seized, whereas from 2014 to 2025, drugs worth ₹1 lakh 71 thousand crore, amounting to 1 crore 11 lakh kilograms, have been seized. Shri Shah said that our campaign against synthetic drugs has been encouraging. We have also achieved an 11-fold increase in the quantity of drugs disposed of.
He said that in 2020, opium crop on 10,770 acres of land was destroyed, and by November 2025, crops on 40 thousand acres of land have been destroyed.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah has directed all departments to prepare a roadmap by March 31 according to their respective responsibilities in dealing with the drug problem, establish a monitoring mechanism, and focus completely on it, so that a comprehensive solution to this problem can be achieved.
He said that in the next three years, we have to fight on all fronts against drugs across the country and make India a ‘Drug-Free India’, and make every effort to protect the country’s youth from drugs. He said that only continuous awareness can keep us safe. He said that we want to create such a permanent system that is capable of fighting this battle.
Amit Shah said that Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) have a very important role in the fight against drugs. States where the pace of destroying seized drugs is slow will have to speed it up. He appealed to all state Directors Generals of Police to prepare a roadmap in their states and take concrete steps for the timely destruction of drugs.
Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set the goal of making India number one in the world in every field by 2047, when the centenary of independence is celebrated. To create such an India, it is the responsibility of all of us to provide complete protection to the young generation from drugs.
Shah said that the fight is currently at such a stage that we can win it. The Home Minister said that we will carry out the task of saving the country’s next generations with top priority.
The NCORD mechanism has a four-tier structure with Apex Level NCORD Committee, which is headed by Union Home Secretary, Executive Level NCORD Committee, which is headed by Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, State Level NCORD Committees, headed by Chief Secretaries of States and District Level NCORD Committees headed by District Magistrates.
The NCORD mechanism was established in 2016 to enhance coordination between the States, the Ministry of Home Affairs and concerned stakeholders in addressing the challenge of the drug menace in a holistic manner. (JKNS)
