NEW DELHI: Growing challenge of synthetic drugs and clandestine labs, extradition of fugitives and trafficking through Dark Web will be high on agenda of discussion at the conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force to be held in Delhi next week, officials said. Heads of narcotics units of 36 states will be congregating at the conference to be inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah on September 16. During the conference, Shah will also release the NCB Annual Report-2024 and launch the Online Drug Disposal Campaign, further underscoring the government’s commitment to achieve its objective of ‘drug free India by 2047’.The conference agenda includes six technical sessions, focusing on key areas such as integrated investigation, tracking fugitives, precursor control, synthetic drugs, improving effectiveness in investigation and trials, dark web investigations, and global trafficking trends.According to NCB, the conference will feature in-depth discussions on critical aspects of drug supply, demand reduction, and harm reduction, including their far-reaching national security implications, and will seek to foster a whole-of-government approach in addressing the complex challenges posed by drug trafficking and abuse.“The conference aims to bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a drug-free India by charting a strategic roadmap to achieve this goal. The two-day conference, themed ‘united resolve, shared responsibility’ will bring together ANTF Heads from all the states and Union Territories, along with stakeholders from various government departments,” said a statement from NCB.The conference seeks to foster a whole-of-government approach in addressing the complex challenges posed by drug trafficking and abuse. By leveraging technology, intelligence, and community action, the NCB and States/UTs Anti-Narcotics Task Forces aim to create a future-ready partnership that can effectively combat the drug threat, officials said.“The Modi government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, and Shah’s directive to establish dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in all states and UTs in 2021 marked a significant step in this direction. The conference is expected to build on this momentum, generating actionable outcomes that will guide future strategies in the fight against narcotics,” the statement added.
