(a) whether some smugglers have been arrested with opium and ganja in various States including Delhi and NCR;
(b) if so, the number of smugglers arrested, the quantity of opium and ganja charas seized from them during the current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the said smugglers have nexus with foreign smugglers;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the measures being taken by the Government to check smuggling of these narcotics?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)
(a): Yes. Some smugglers have been arrested with opium and ganja in various States including Delhi and NCR. Law Enforcement Agencies in India regularly arrest traffickers in connection with these drugs.
(b): State-wise data for the current year 2015 (upto May, 2015) is enclosed at Annexure - A.
(c): Yes, some of the arrested persons have links with foreign traffickers.
(d): The details are at Annexure - B.
(e): Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the following measures to prevent and combat abuse of and illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the country:
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1. International coordination Measures:
(a) India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on drug related matters with 11 countries and Bilateral Agreements with 23 countries.
(b) DG level talks are held regularly with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
(c) Various Ministerial, Secretary level talks are held with neighbouring countries.
(d) Real time information with Drug Liason Officers of USA, UK, France, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Canada who are based in India is shared and co-ordinated operations are conducted for interdiction of drugs.
2. Supply Reduction Measures:
(a) Coordination and sharing of intelligence with various law enforcement agencies of Centre like Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Excise and Customs and of state agencies like Police and State Excise.
(b) Training programmes are being regularly conducted for law enforcement officials for upgrading their skills to combating drug menace.
(c) Sharing of real time information and coordination operation with Nodal agencies of neighbouring countries.
(d) Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Coast Guards have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for making interdiction of narcotic drugs.
(e) Financial assistance is being provided to eligible States for strengthening their anti-narcotics units.
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(f) Monetary rewards for information leading to seizures of Narcotic drugs/destruction of illicit crops to informers and officers are being provided.
(g) Destruction of illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation in coordination with State agencies.
3. Demand Reduction Measures:
(a) Awareness building and educating people about ill effects of drug abuse through various campaigns.
(b) Community based intervention for motivation and counseling, identification, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
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