Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday inaugurated the second national conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) chiefs in Delhi, emphasising the urgent need to shield India’s younger generation from the growing menace of drugs. The two-day conference, themed “Joint Resolve, Shared Responsibility,” follows the first such gathering of ANTF heads held in April 2023.
Focus On Cross-Border Networks And Drug Cartels
Shah released the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Annual Report 2024 and launched an online drug disposal campaign during the event, attended by representatives from 36 states and union territories. He urged ANTF heads to coordinate with the CBI and establish a robust extradition mechanism to bring overseas drug traffickers within the ambit of Indian law. Shah warned that many criminals continue to promote narcotics trade from behind bars, supported by three layers of cartels: one managing entry points, another distributing drugs to states, and a third selling them at kiosks and street shops. He said it was time to break these networks decisively.
Youth At The Core Of India’s Future
Linking the fight against drugs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a fully developed India by 2047, Shah said the foundation of any great nation lies in its youth. “If we want to build a strong India, saving our young generation from drugs is essential,” he noted, stressing that weakening the country’s future citizens would undermine national progress. Shah urged all stakeholders to treat the battle against narcotics as their collective responsibility.
