Shah to inaugurate ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ on Feb. 13

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah would be inaugurating the two-day ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ for BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Partner Nations in New Delhi on February 13, 2020.

In pursuance of the commitment of PM Narendra Modi during the 4^th BIMSTEC summit held at Kathmandu in 2018, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is organising the conference. It is believed that this platform will provide the opportunity to all the member nations to deliberate on the increased threats posed by drug trafficking and the collective steps that are required to negate the threats by learning from the best practices adopted by member countries. Delegations from each BIMSTEC Nation have been invited to participate in the conference. Further, various Central and State drug law enforcement agencies of India and other stakeholders have also been invited.

In the changing drug trafficking scenario, Asian countries are increasingly being affected by drug trafficking and BIMSTEC, being the key link between South Asian and South East Asian Nations is one of the most effective platforms to tackle this global threat. The BIMSTEC is a regional organization comprising seven Member States lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand besides India, constituting a contiguous regional unity, according to a PIB release.

Regional maritime connectivity and trade through the Bay of Bengal are imperative for the shared prosperity and economic growth of the entire BIMSTEC region. However, while providing unhindered maritime access, security challenges at sea and coastlines are a threat. One of the most prominent of such challenges is the drug trafficking through sea. It necessitates collaborative efforts at sea including further strengthening of effective coordination in operations and information sharing amongst partner nations to combat this menace. The recent seizures of Methamphetamine (1,156 kg and 371 kg) by NCB establish the fact that Bay of Bengal region is impegnerated with the drug trafficking menace.

NCB is the apex agency for exercising powers and functions of the Central Government under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and is also the nodal agency for matters pertaining to drug law enforcement in India.