Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Sunday that the Indian government has developed a comprehensive roadmap to make the country entirely free from narcotics by 2029, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India led by drug-free youth power.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Union government views the campaign against drug trafficking as a national security priority, a significant shift from earlier approaches characterized by fragmented efforts. The Centre is implementing a coordinated, nationwide strategy aimed at dismantling the entire narcotics network, encompassing drug trafficking, financing, and rehabilitation.
Addressing a press conference following a high-level meeting on narcotics in Panaji, attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and state government, Shah stated that the objective is for drug-free youth to spearhead India’s development into a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
He contrasted the current approach with the situation before 2014, when the fight against narcotics was often confined to small units and isolated actions, with agencies sometimes satisfied by apprehending minor offenders. The current administration has elevated the fight against drugs to a national security priority.
To ensure coordinated action, a four-tier National Coordination Committee for Countering Drug Trafficking (NCORD) mechanism was established in 2019, operating at the executive, state, and district levels. Furthermore, dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been constituted in all states and Union Territories, linking local police with the national strategy. A Joint Coordination Committee was also formed in 2019 to facilitate joint decision-making between central agencies and state governments on major drug networks, their international linkages, and operational vulnerabilities.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has undergone significant strengthening, including cadre reorganization and enhancements in manpower, zonal presence, and operational capabilities. Shah emphasized that the anti-drug campaign extends beyond mere enforcement to include awareness, treatment, counseling, rehabilitation, and livelihood opportunities. The 1933 MANAS helpline has been introduced to provide support to individuals struggling with drug addiction.
Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving the ‘Drug-Free India 2029′ goal through a combination of political will, coordinated enforcement, addiction prevention, and victim rehabilitation. The three-year roadmap is built upon a four-pillar approach designed to dismantle narcotic networks: intelligence and operation-based enforcement, control of synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction, and capacity building and coordination.
In a broader context of internal security, Shah highlighted the government’s success in addressing long-standing challenges, including terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast, and Left-Wing Extremism. He noted that Jammu and Kashmir is progressing towards development following a significant decline in militant activity, with the sentiment of separatism waning since the abrogation of Article 370.
He stated that the government aims to dismantle 100 national and international drug networks and repatriate 100 fugitives by March 2029. By March 2027, complete end-to-end visibility of the drug supply chain is targeted, with at least 75 secret laboratories slated for destruction in 2026. The government is also pursuing a mission-mode approach to bring back fugitives hiding abroad, with 274 wanted criminals extradited from 36 countries between July 2019 and July 2026.
Additionally, over 1,400 central and state agencies are connected through Interpol, facilitating expedited information sharing. Assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitives have been attached, and Rs 18,762 crore has been recovered or restored between 2019 and 2026. The Union Minister also touched upon efforts against cybercrime, noting that over Rs 11,158 crore has been saved across 32.8 lakh complaints by the cyber system as of June 30, 2026.
Measures to strengthen internal security include enhancing border and coastal security, implementing three new criminal laws, and the Vibrant Villages Programme. Shah affirmed a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards militancy and a first-responder approach to disaster management. He also commended the Goa police for their effective implementation of the new criminal laws, which has reportedly increased the conviction rate from 22 percent to 53.2 percent.
The Chenab Times News Desk