New Delhi: Drugs worth Rs 22,000 crore were seized during 2014-22 as compared to the seizure of Rs 768 crore in 2006-13, which shows the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government towards a drug free India, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday.

He said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the policy of zero tolerance against narcotics adopted by the Ministry of Home Affairs is showing successful results today. One of the main pillars of this policy is the whole government approach of the Modi Government, in which the coordination of different departments makes the policy more effective, he said.

In his message on the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,’ the Union Home Minister said: “It is our resolve that we will not allow the narcotics trade in India, nor will we allow drugs to be routed to the world through India. In this campaign against drugs, all the major agencies of the country, especially the Narcotics Control Bureau, are continuously fighting their war.

Shah said that the campaign against the misuse and side effects of drugs is being carried out on a war footing at the national level through appropriate forums. The effect of our comprehensive and coordinated fight against drugs is that drugs worth Rs 768 crore only were seized in 2006-13. It has increased almost 30 times to Rs 22,000 crore in 2014-22. 181 per cent more cases have been registered against drug peddlers in comparison to the earlier period. 

"This shows the commitment of the Modi Government towards a drug free India. We also launched a destruction campaign to prevent re-use of seized drugs in June 2022, under this campaign around 6 lakh kg of seized narcotics have been destroyed across the country so far," he said.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that whether it is about destroying the drug cultivation or spreading public awareness, the Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with all institutions and states, is making every possible effort for a ‘drug free India’ but this battle cannot be won without people’s participation. “I appeal to the people to take an active part in this war against its misuse and inform the security agencies about the drug-trade taking place around them,” he said.

Amit Shah said: “I am sure that with collective efforts, we all will be able to root out the problem of drugs and achieve our goal of 'Drugs-free India'. I congratulate the NCB again and other institutions for their contribution in working towards the resolve of the Modi Government and I hope that we will not rest unless we win this fight against drugs.” /BI/