Maharashtra Intensifies Fight Against Drug Trafficking in Meeting with NCB Chief

Mumbai, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : The fight against drug trafficking in Maharashtra is set to intensify following a recent meeting between Anurag Garg, the Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.

During their discussion, Garg emphasized the central government’s goal of making the country drug-free by December 2029. He outlined various initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which include a collaborative approach involving all government departments to tackle drug trafficking and distribution effectively.

“The state of Maharashtra is at the forefront of this nationwide mission for a drug-free society,” the NCB stated.

Earlier in August, the NCB hosted a hybrid meeting of the India-U.S. Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) to strengthen cooperation in combating drug trafficking. This meeting was attended by representatives from various agencies, including the NCB, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and others from the Indian side. The U.S. delegation included officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

The discussions primarily focused on enhancing operational cooperation, preventing the misuse of precursor chemicals used in drug manufacturing, improving policy coordination, and advancing capacity building efforts.

According to the Home Ministry, the NCB has strengthened international cooperation in drug control through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with 19 nations. Regular discussions at the Director General level are held with countries like Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States on drug-related issues.