(a) whether there has been a rise in the trafficking of narcotics in the current year;
(b) if so, the number of incidents of drug trafficking during the last three years;
(c) whether talks have been held between India, Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to check smuggling of narcotics;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the decision reached in this regard; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to check the smuggling of narcotics?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S. REGUPATHY)
(a): It is not possible to realistically assess the volume of illicit trafficking of narcotics in a given period. However, the statistics regarding seizures of narcotics reported by various drug law enforcement agencies indicate that there is rise in seizures of narcotics during the 5 months of the current year as compared to the corresponding period in 2003.
(b): 14972, 11451 and 17829 incidents of trafficking of narcotic drugs were detected during the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 respectively as reported by various drug law enforcement agencies.
(c) & (d): India-Pakistan Director General level talks on drug related matters were held on 15-16 June, 2004 in Islamabad. Besides, regular meetings were held between the drug law enforcement officers of Government of India and Government of Myanmar.
(e): India-Pakistan and India-Myanmar have agreed to the need for timely exchange of information on matters relating to trafficking of drugs, maintain vigilance to prevent any possible trafficking of drugs, precursor chemicals and psychotropic substances, and share each others experiences in the field of combating drug trafficking.
(f): Government of India has taken a number of steps to combat drug trafficking in the country. These include:-
(i) strict surveillance and enforcement at import and export points, land borders, airports, foreign post offices etc.
(ii) intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes.
(iii) Improved coordination between the various drug law enforcement agencies in order to impart greater cohesion to interdiction.
(iv) Identification of illicit cultivation of the opium poppy and the wild growth of cannabis and eradication of these sources of supply.
(v) Strengthening of international liaison to improve the collection, analysis and dissemination of operational intelligence.
(vi) Increased international co-operation for exchange of information and investigative assistance in administering control over the movement of precursor chemicals.
(vii) Building of an electronic data base of offenders.
(viii) Conducting training programmes for law enforcement officials for upgrading their skills to combat drug trafficking.