Is India a hub for international drug peddling? Madras High Court asks Centre

17th July, 2020 Security

The Madras High Court has directed the Centre to spell out whether India is being used as a hub by international drug cartels.
Called for a detailed report on the number of cases booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 in the last 10 years, the quantity of contraband seized, and those seized materials were disposed off.
Involvement of international drug mafias in crime,
The approximate value of drugs transacted in the country,
The remedial measures undertaken by the Centre.
Explain steps taken to not only arrest the drug peddlers but also to prevent the crime.

Youngsters and students of Punjab are mostly addicted to drugs.
Same situation should not be allowed to spread to other States.
Punjab is the transit point on the drug route and the State has become a major consumer base.
There is an increase in drug abuse cases and rising crimes in southern states.

A Survey by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in association with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) revealed that 3.1 crores Indians use cannabis, bhang, ganja, charas, heroin and opium.
Only one in 20 drug addicts get treatment at a hospital.
The problem of drug addiction of children is more prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana.
Easy availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances near schools, colleges and other public places makes it higher prevalence.

Drugs follow disposable income. People started taking cocaine to reduce stress and anxiety about work.
Poor people engage in low cost tobacco consumption leading to spread of cancer, rich people engage in Opium, Heroin and LSD.
India is in the middle of two major illicit opium production regions in the world the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the west and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the east.
Deep web platforms allowing usage of crypto-currencies have deepened the drug network.
Latin American cartels are also increasing their presence in south Asia to benefit from increased drug trade.
Money from drugs are used in financing terrorism like Taliban, terrorism in Kashmir.
Porous border, corruption in police services, human trafficking further provide impetus to drug trafficking.
Many illegal pharma companies also engage in production of illicit drugs.

Increases terrorism, human trafficking.
Affects peace and stability of the country.
Places a heavy burden on public Health system.
Reduces potential and sprit of the youth.
It diverts precious economic resources, weakens the family structure and weaken the demographic dividend.