New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- The third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads of States and Union Territories concluded here on Wednesday, with participants reiterating their commitment to implementing the Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026-29.

The two-day conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the theme 'United Resolve, Shared Responsibility', witnessed the participation of ANTF heads from 28 states and 8 UTs and officials from various government departments. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah had inaugurated the conference on September 22.

The conference deliberated on institutional mechanisms, demand reduction and rehabilitation besides steps to dismantle drug trafficking networks and cartels. There was emphasis on moving away from seizure-centric to network-centric strategy with a focus on financial profiling, intelligence-led investigations and targeting of organised trafficking networks and kingpins.

The conference also deliberated on strengthening State ANTFs, improving coordination through NCORD and Joint Coordination Committee meetings and effective implementation of PITNDPS Act. The participants discussed UGC's Nasha Mukt Campus Framework, creation of 500-metre drug-free zones around educational institutions and expansion of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

The second day of the conference was devoted to international cooperation including coordination with Interpol and foreign agencies, deportation of fugitives and role of Financial Intelligence Unit-India in financial investigations. The use of digital platforms like NIDAAN, e-Sakshya, e-Prison and CCTNS besides Nar-K9 and the MAC platform were also discussed.

Emerging threats of synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals, clandestine laboratories, darknet and cryptocurrency were also examined. The voluntary code of conduct for the chemical industry to prevent diversion of precursor chemicals was also discussed.

In his valedictory address, NCB Director General urged the states to work out three-year, state-specific roadmaps aligned with the national vision document and emphasised on enhancing intelligence-sharing and coordination among agencies to detect and dismantle transnational, inter-state and intra-state drug networks.

On drug trafficking through railways, the DG said the Railway Protection Force has constituted a narcotics cell and a MoU between the NCB and RPF is proposed for capacity building, information exchange and joint operations.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.