Question : SMUGGLING OF DRUGS AND OTHER GOODS

(a) whether drug trafficking, gold smuggling, flesh trade and inflow of counterfeit currency have increased manifold in the country, particularly on the Indo-Nepal border since 1994;

(b) if so, the facts in this regard and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) the number of smugglers and Government officials including Ex-Army/Air Force/Navy personnel arrested in this regard during the last three years and the action taken against them;

(d) whether the Government have seized a large quantity of heroin from various places in the country between October 1999 to February 2000;

(e) if so, the details thereof indicating the date, place and quantity of heroin seized, persons arrested and the action taken against them;

(f) whether Pak link has been revealed in the biggest haul of heroin during the above period; and

(g) if so, the action taken to take up the matter with Pakistan Government and also to check the smuggling of narcotics into the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (REVENUE) IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR)


(a) to (g) : Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.222 FOR ANSWER ON 10.3.2000

(a): There is no evidence to suggest this.

(b): Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(c): 1,531 persons including 8 Govt. and 2 Bank officials were arrested by the officers of the Customs Department in connection with smuggling of gold, narcotic drugs and other contraband goods during the last three years, i.e., years 1997 to 1999. As per information compiled by NCB, 39,960 persons including 5 Govt. officials were arrested by the various enforcement agencies in connection with drug related cases under the NDPS Act, 1985, during last three years, i.e., years 1997 to 1999. As reported by Delhi Police to NCB, they have arrested one retired Indian Air Force officer and his daughter on 4th February, 2000 in connection with a seizure of Hashish. Appropriate action for launching prosecution and confiscation of seized goods/drugs has been taken against the persons involved under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and/or NDPS Act, 1985, in all these cases, after completing investigations and following due processes of law.

(d) 388.565 kgs. of heroin in 66 cases has been seized by the various enforcement agencies in the country between October, 1999 and February, 2000.

(e) The requisite details of these cases are indicated in Annexure.

(f) The biggest seizure of heroin in the period mentioned in (d) above was effected on the intervening night of 21/22.12.99 by the officers of Delhi Zonal Unit of NCB, when they intercepted a truck on National Highway No.8 near Delhi, and recovered 77 packets containing one kg. each totalling 77 kgs. of heroin. The packets bore Pakistani markings indicating that the Heroin was of Pakistan origin. A total of 8 persons (3 Afghans, 2 Pakistani and 3 Indians) were arrested in this connection.


(g) The matter has yet not been taken up with Pakistan Government as the case is still under investigation. All the enforcement agencies entrusted with the task of Drug Law enforcement are, however, alert and taking measures to detect and prevent smuggling of narcotics into the country. Deterrent penal action, specially that provided under NDPS Act, 1985 is being invariably initiated against all persons found involved in Drug smuggling.

ANNEXURE

Statement indicating the details of seizures of heroin in the country between October 1999 to February 2000

S.No.	Date of Place of	Qty. of No. of	seizure seizure	Heroin persons	seized arrested	(in kgs)
1. 2.10.99 Mumbai 0.800 1

2. Oct.99 Srinagar 1.570 6

3. 7.10.99 Mumbai 1.500 1

4. 11.10.99 Madhya Pradesh 1.000 2

5. 11.10.99 Tamil Nadu 9.935 1
6. 14.10.99 Uttar Pradesh 0.500 1

7 20.10.99 Madhya Pradesh 0.500 1

8. 21.10.99 Tamil Nadu 52.840 4

9. 25.10.99 Trivandrum 0.510 2
10. 30.10.99 Maharashtra 3.210 1
11. 30.10.99 Madhya Pradesh 1.200 1
12. 7.11.99 Delhi 0.866 1
13. 8.11.99 Punjab 0.056 4
14. 10.11.99 Maharashtra 4.750 1
15. 18.11.99 Calcutta 0.400 2
16. 18.11.99 Calcutta 0.340 1
17. 22.11.99 Ahmedabad 4.423 1
18. 28.11.99 Delhi 32.500 2
19. 1.12.99 Madhya Pradesh 0.700 1
20. 1.12.99 Punjab 0.224 18
21. 5.12.99 Manipur 0.900 4
22. 7.12.99 Jodhpur 35.300 2
23. 8.12.99 Madhya Pradesh 0.420 2
24. 9.12.99 Calcutta 0.220 1
25. 9.12.99 Manipur 0.998 1
26. 13.12.99 Chennai 29.355 7
27. 14.12.99 Maharashtra 5.050 2
28. 21.12.99 Mizoram 0.191 1
29. 21.12.99 Delhi 77.000 8
30. 28.12.99 Rajasthan 3.500 2
31. 29.12.99 Rajasthan 0.320 1
32. 30.12.99 Uttar Pradesh 0.450 1
33. Dec.99 Srinagar 1.570 6
34. 2.1.2000 Goa 1.065 4
35. 2.1.2000 Mumbai 13.600 1
36. 6.1.2000 Calcutta 1.500 3
37. 8.1.2000 Chandigarh 8.000 3
38. 10.1.2000 Uttar Pradesh 0.155 2
39. 11.1.2000 Delhi 0.866 1
40. 12.1.2000 Bihar 1.800 1
41. 14.1.2000 Mumbai 11.550 3
42. 17.1.2000 Chennai 10.230 3
43. 18.1.2000 Delhi 2.000 2
44. 19.1.2000 Madhya Pradesh 0.500 1
45. 21.1.2000 West Bengal 0.300 1
46. 22.1.2000 Gujarat 0.463 3
47. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.874 1
48. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.993 1
49. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.620 1
50. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.018 1
51. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.286 1
52. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.902 1
53. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.812 1
54. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.904 1
55. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.895 1
56. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.936 1
57. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.565 1
58. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.975 1
59. 28.1.2000 Delhi 0.931 1
60. 1.2.2000 Delhi 1.000 2
61. 3.2.2000 Mumbai 1.800 4
62. 7.2.2000 Mumbai 0.546 -
63. 9.2.2000 Tamil Nadu 5.095 -
64. 11.2.2000 Trivandrum 0.169 1
65. 18.2.2000 Mumbai 5.617 2
66. 21.2.2000 Chennai 39.500 3 
TOTAL: 388.565 143