Question : Transit Point for Drug Trafficking

(a) whether the Government is aware of the World Drug Report recently released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) which specifically mentions that India has become a transit point for drug trafficking because of the low value assigned to heroin in the Indian market;

(b) if so, the measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has the database on drug users apart from indirect indicators like registered drug users or law enforcement data; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the frequency of monitoring of such data?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): There is no mention in the World Drug Report 2017 and 2018 about India becoming a transit point for drug trafficking because of the low value of heroin in the Indian market, though the said issue has been mentioned in the World Drug Report 2016.

(b): Various measures have been taken by the Government to prevent drug trafficking which include intensive preventive and interdiction efforts


-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO.2258 FOR 31.07.2018


along known drug routes, strict surveillance and enforcement at import and export points, increased international cooperation for exchange of information and investigative assistance in administering control over the movement of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals, training programmes for law enforcement officials for upgrading their skills to combating drug menace, sharing of real time information and coordination operation with Nodal agencies of neighbouring countries and empowerment of Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Coast Guard under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further, financial assistance has been provided to eligible States for strengthening their Anti-Narcotics Units.

Narco Co-ordination Centre (NCORD) has been constituted under Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau to provide a common platform for co-ordinated actions by all the Drug law enforcement agencies and other stake holders.

(c) & (d): No such data is available.





*********