Puducherry, May 29 (IANS) Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Friday discussed measures to intensify anti-narcotics drive with top Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official R. Sudhakar.

Sudhakar, Deputy Director-General (DDG) of NCB (Southern Region), also discussed with the Chief Minister a plan to spread awareness against drug abuse.

Sharing information about the meeting, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on X, “The NCB (Southern Region) DDG, called on the Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. Discussions focused on strengthening Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism, intensifying anti-narcotics drive & implementing targeted awareness programmes for students across the Union Territory.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier said that the goal of a drug-free India will be achieved only through a ruthless approach to break the drug supply chain, a strategic approach for demand reduction, and a humane approach for harm reduction.

While chairing a meeting of NCORD, Home Minister Shah said that there should be no leniency towards those who manufacture and sell drugs, but a humane approach should be adopted towards those who have begun using drugs — this is the clear policy of the Union government.

“We must move forward by strengthening command, compliance, and accountability, what matters is not the number of meetings held, but the review of outcomes and the assessment of impact,” he added.

The Union Minister said that strict action taken against the kingpins, financiers, and logistics routes of the drug trade should be a key focus of our review

Our goal should be to increase the conviction rate by ensuring the use of Forensic Science Laboratory and the timely filing of charge sheets, Home Minister Shah told top officials of the NCB.

Suggesting new methods of outwitting criminals, Union Minister Shah said, “There has also been a change in drug distribution and payment models, with criminals adopting new innovations; therefore, we too must update and adapt our strategies from time to time.”

Highlighting the war against drugs under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Union Home Minister said that during 2004 to 2013, drugs worth Rs 40,000 crore, amounting to 26 lakh kg were seized, whereas from 2014 to 2025, drugs worth Rs 1.71 lakh crore, amounting to 1 crore 11 lakh kg, have been seized.

He added 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 40,000 acres of land have been destroyed.

–IANS

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