Ahmedabad, June 16: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg announced a voluntary code of conduct for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries on Tuesday. This initiative aims to prevent the misuse of precursor chemicals in the illegal production of narcotics.
During a conference held in Ahmedabad, Garg emphasized that while law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in prevention and investigation, merely taking action is not enough to win the fight against synthetic drugs.
He noted that manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, transporters, and traders in the chemical sector are in a position to identify suspicious orders, unusual purchasing patterns, and attempts to conceal end-use, which may indicate potential misuse.
The voluntary code of conduct serves as a guideline to promote responsible chemical management, strengthen supply chain security, and encourage the timely identification and reporting of suspicious transactions.
A statement highlighted that the primary focus of this initiative is to prevent the misuse of chemicals that can be used in the illegal manufacture of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and new synthetic drugs.
Senior officials from the NCB and the Central Narcotics Bureau attended the conference, along with representatives from major industry organizations and companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.
During the event, NCB and CBN officials provided detailed insights into the evolving landscape of synthetic drugs, emerging trends in illegal manufacturing, and the increasing misuse of precursor chemicals.
Participants were informed that criminal networks are continuously utilizing alternative chemicals and precursor substances to evade control, making industry vigilance crucial.
Industry representatives welcomed this initiative and shared their experiences related to chemical management, supply chain security, customer verification, and voluntary self-regulation.
They affirmed that securing the legitimate chemical supply chain is a shared responsibility and expressed their commitment to supporting the objectives of this code.
Garg urged the industry to voluntarily adopt this guidance and enhance their internal compliance systems, customer verification processes, transaction monitoring, and record-keeping arrangements.
He also encouraged the industry to promptly report any suspicious activities, unusual transactions, or attempts to purchase chemicals without valid reasons to the NCB.
This voluntary code of conduct applies not only to chemicals controlled under the NDPS Act but also to other substances that may be used in the production of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances.
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