'Top Priority': Amit Shah Announces Three-Year Nationwide Campaign Against Drugs

Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 23:25 IST

Outlining the government’s policy, the Home Minister said there would be zero tolerance for those who manufacture and sell drugs

Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (File photo)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a three-year, nationwide campaign against drug abuse and trafficking, describing the problem as one linked more to narco-terrorism than to routine law-and-order challenges. Chairing the 9th apex-level meeting of the Narco‑Coordination Centre (NCORD) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Amit Shah said the collective campaign would begin on March 31 and run for three years, with defined targets, clear timelines and regular reviews.

“The challenge of the drug problem is linked more to the issue of narco-terrorism than to law and order. It is a conspiracy to destroy the country’s future generations," Amit Shah said, adding that the health of the youth, their ability to think and perform and growing social discontent are all directly linked to the drug menace.

Amit Shah directed all departments of the Government of India to prepare a detailed roadmap up to 2029, along with a monitoring mechanism, to comprehensively address the drug problem. He stressed that success should be measured not by the number of meetings held, but by outcomes and impact on the ground.

“We must strengthen command, compliance and accountability," he said, calling for strict action against kingpins, financiers and logistics routes of the drug trade.

Outlining the government’s policy, the Home Minister said there would be zero tolerance for those who manufacture and sell drugs, while a humane approach would be adopted towards drug users.

“The goal of a drug-free India will be achieved only through a ruthless approach to break the drug supply chain, a strategic approach for demand reduction, and a humane approach for harm reduction," Amit Shah said.

He added that continuous awareness campaigns are essential to protect society, especially young people, from drug abuse.

Amit Shah emphasised the need to improve conviction rates by ensuring timely filing of charge sheets and greater use of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs). He also noted that drug networks are adopting new methods of distribution and payment, and said enforcement agencies must constantly update their strategies.

Every state police force, he said, will constitute a permanent, mission-mode team of selected officers, better coordinated through intelligence inputs and artificial intelligence tools.

“We want to put in place a permanent system capable of fighting this battle," he said.

Amit Shah also inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in Amritsar. The NCORD mechanism, established in 2016, operates through a four-tier structure at the apex, executive, state and district levels to enhance coordination among central and state agencies.

Calling on state Directors General of Police to take concrete steps for the timely destruction of seized drugs, Amit Shah said the fight has reached a stage where it can be won.

“Our responsibility is to protect the country’s youth and save the next generation. We will carry out this task with top priority," he said.

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