Amit Shah unveils a 2026–29 'drug control' vision as India fights a narco-terror threat

Chairing the 10th apex NCORD meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah released a Vision Document on Drug Control (2026–2029) and launched a campaign to destroy over 2 lakh kg of seized narcotics — framing drugs as a national-security threat fed by drones, the darknet and crypto.

What happened

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired the 10th apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi.
• He released the 'Vision Document on Drug Control (2026–2029)' and the 'NCB Annual Report-2025', and e-inaugurated NCB zonal offices in Jammu and Guwahati.
• He launched the 'Online Drugs Disposal Fortnight Campaign' for the destruction of narcotics weighing 2,09,500 kg and valued at around ₹6,000 crore.
• Shah said the country stands at a critical turning point, with the next three years decisive, and stressed the problem is not merely law-and-order or public health but is tied to internal security, social stability, economic interests and the future of the youth.
• He warned of an evolving narco-terrorism ecosystem (narco-terror financing, cross-border terror funding) and noted traffickers — exploiting India's location between the 'Death Triangle' and 'Death Crescent' — now use drone drops, containerised sea cargo, the darknet and crypto payments, requiring all states and agencies to act together.

For Prelims

• NCORD: The Narco-Coordination Centre — a four-tier coordination mechanism (apex, executive, state and district levels) set up (2016) to coordinate anti-drug efforts among central and state agencies; the apex level is chaired by the Union Home Secretary, with periodic meetings chaired by the Home Minister.
• NCB: The Narcotics Control Bureau (1986), the apex drug-law-enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which implements the NDPS Act and coordinates internationally.
• NDPS Act, 1985: The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act — the principal law governing narcotics; the related PIT-NDPS Act, 1988 allows preventive detention of traffickers.
• 'Golden Crescent' & 'Golden Triangle': India sits between two major drug-producing zones — the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Laos-Thailand) ('Death Crescent/Triangle').
• Narco-terrorism: The nexus of drug trafficking and terror financing — drug profits fund cross-border terror networks; a core internal-security concern.
• MANAS / Nasha Mukt Bharat: The MANAS national anti-narcotics helpline (1933) and the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (demand reduction) complement enforcement — a 'whole-of-government' approach.
• Don't confuse: NCORD (the inter-agency coordination mechanism) is distinct from the NCB (the enforcement agency); both work under the MHA on the NDPS framework.

For Mains

Syllabus: GS3.19 · GS3.18 · Linkage L1