Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Indore Zonal Unit destroyed 2,400 kilograms of seized narcotics worth over ₹20 crore on Saturday as part of the nationwide ‘Drug Disposal Fortnight.’ The initiative was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 11.
Running from January 11 to January 25, the ‘Pakhwara’ involves coordinated efforts by the NCB and other central and state law enforcement agencies, including police, to dispose of confiscated drugs. On the launch day, 10 NCB Zonal Units, including those in Indore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kochi, destroyed significant quantities of seized narcotics.
The event coincided with a conference in New Delhi organised by the NCB on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security.’ During the conference, Amit Shah inaugurated the NCB’s Bhopal Zonal Unit office, expanded the MANAS-2 helpline to all states and union territories, and launched the Drug Disposal Fortnight.
The conference emphasised real-time data sharing through the MANAS portal, bolstering the functionality of State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), using the NIDAAN database, and establishing special NDPS courts for faster trials. It also reviewed the progress of states in combating drug trafficking and assessed the effectiveness of the Narcotics Coordination Mechanism (NCORD). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is pursuing a three-pronged strategy to achieve a drug-free India by 2047.