11 Jan Drug Trafficking and National Security
SYLLABUS MAPPING:
GS-3- Internal Security – Drug Trafficking and National Security
FOR PRELIMS:
what are the golden triangle, golden crescent and major provisions of NDPS Acts
FOR MAINS
How does drug trafficking threaten the national security of India? Govt measured and initiatives to combat drug trafficking in India.
Why in the news?
The news is focused on a regional conference on “Drug Trafficking and National Security” chaired by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi. The conference, organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), highlights the growing issue of drug trafficking and its impact on national security, particularly in northern India. Key developments include the launch of the Drug Disposal Fortnight, the inauguration of the NCB’s new office in Bhopal, and the extension of the MANAS helpline to all states and Union Territories. A major aspect of the conference is strengthening national efforts to combat drug trafficking, with a focus on improving coordination among different agencies, enhancing forensic capabilities, and ensuring faster trials of drug-related cases.
Drug Trafficking in India:
1. Drug Trafficking Data
Heroin and Opium: In 2021, nearly 3,000 kg of heroin were seized at Mundra Port in Gujarat, one of the largest busts in India’s history.
Methamphetamines: Significant seizures of methamphetamines have been reported in northeastern states like Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, where these drugs are trafficked from Myanmar.
Cannabis: Cannabis remains prevalent, with major seizures reported across states like Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Role of the Golden Triangle: The Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) is a major source of heroin, methamphetamines, and opium. Drugs from this region flow into India’s northeastern states, which share borders with Myanmar, making them prime trafficking routes. This area is also home to insurgent groups, further complicating security.
3. Drug Trafficking as a National Security Threat
Funding Terrorism and Insurgency: Drug cartels fund insurgent groups and terrorists in India, including militant outfits in the northeast and Kashmir. The Taliban in Afghanistan uses the opium trade to fund its activities, impacting India indirectly.
Corruption and Law Enforcement: Drug trafficking fuels corruption in law enforcement, weakening border security and enabling trafficking syndicates to operate with impunity. This compromises India’s ability to protect its borders and enforce anti-trafficking laws.
Regional Instability: The northeastern states are highly vulnerable due to their proximity to Myanmar, a major drug producer. The Attari-Wagah border with Pakistan is also a critical route for opium trafficking, adding to the threat.
Social and Economic Impact: Drug abuse, especially among youth, leads to violence, crime, and a burden on the healthcare system. It also destabilizes communities and erodes the socio-economic fabric.
4. Economic and Social Consequences
Cost to Public Health: Rising drug abuse strains India’s healthcare system, with increasing numbers of drug-related health crises and rehabilitation needs.
Parallel Economies: The drug trade fosters illegal economies, fueling corruption and money laundering, which undermines legitimate businesses.
5. Strengthening Efforts to Combat Drug Trafficking
Border Security: Improve surveillance with advanced technologies and enhanced border security measures.
Regional Cooperation: Collaborate more effectively with neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan to curb cross-border trafficking.
Anti-Corruption Measures: Strengthen internal controls to combat corruption within law enforcement agencies.
Public Awareness: Expand prevention, education, and rehabilitation programs, focusing on vulnerable communities and youth.
Govt initiatives:
1. Legal Frameworks:
NDPS Act (1985): Prohibits the production, sale, and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, with strict penalties for violators.
UAPA (1967): Targets terrorism and insurgent activities funded by drug trafficking, especially in sensitive regions like Jammu & Kashmir and the northeast.
PMLA (2002): Enables action against money laundering linked to drug trafficking, allowing asset seizure and prosecution.
2. Other Measures:
Border Security: Strengthened border fencing, especially along India’s borders with Pakistan and Myanmar, and enhanced surveillance using drones and sensors to curb drug trafficking.
Integrated Border Management System (IBMS): Facilitates real-time data sharing between agencies for better control over illegal cross-border activities.
3. Revenue Department Initiatives:
Customs and DRI Enforcement: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepts drug consignments at major ports and collaborates with international agencies to track trafficking networks.
Financial Monitoring: The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) monitors suspicious transactions linked to drug money laundering.
4. Awareness and Prevention Programs:
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): Runs national awareness campaigns targeting youth, emphasizing the dangers of drug abuse and encouraging the use of the National Narcotics Helpline (MANAS).
Schools and Communities: Drug prevention programs in schools and communities focus on education, counselling, and early intervention, aiming to curb youth involvement in drug abuse.
5. International Cooperation:
Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation: India works with international organizations like the UNODC and neighbouring countries to share intelligence and coordinate anti-trafficking efforts, focusing on transnational drug routes.
Cross-border Law Enforcement: Cooperation with neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to jointly combat drug trafficking and dismantle international networks.
Reasons for the prevalence of drug Trafficking:
1. Economic Incentives: Drug trafficking can provide massive profits, especially when production costs in source countries are significantly lower than the wholesale prices in consumer countries.
2. High Demand for Illicit Drugs: In countries with widespread drug use, such as the U.S., there is a consistent demand for illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. This demand ensures a constant market for traffickers to supply.
3. Poverty and Lack of Opportunity: In many regions with high levels of poverty and unemployment, individuals often turn to drug trafficking as a means of survival when legitimate work opportunities are scarce.
4. Political Instability and Corruption: In countries with weak governance or political instability, drug cartels can thrive due to the corruption of law enforcement and political figures who enable illegal operations.
5. Gang and Criminal Organization Influence: Drug trafficking is often controlled by gangs and criminal organizations, which use violence and intimidation to protect their interests. These groups rely on drug trade revenues to fund their activities and expand their influence.
6. Addiction and Dependency: Addiction to drugs fuels trafficking, as users become involved in the trade to sustain their own habits. The cycle of addiction and trafficking is self-perpetuating, creating ongoing demand and supply.
7. Geography and Accessibility: Drug-producing regions, often remote or difficult to monitor (such as jungles or mountainous terrains), make it easier for traffickers to produce and transport drugs while evading detection.
Way to reduce drug trafficking:
1. Strengthening Border Security: Implement advanced technologies like drones, thermal imaging, and AI to monitor borders more effectively, helping to detect and prevent drug smuggling operations before they enter countries.
2. International Cooperation: Foster stronger international cooperation between countries, including intelligence sharing, joint task forces, and extradition agreements, to combat transnational drug trafficking networks.
3. Enhancing Law Enforcement and Corruption Prevention: Invest in training and equipping law enforcement agencies to better combat drug trafficking. At the same time, implementing stronger anti-corruption measures within governments can prevent traffickers from bribing officials to escape legal consequences.
4. Demand Reduction Programs: Focus on reducing the demand for illegal drugs through education, prevention programs, and public awareness campaigns. Address the root causes of addiction, such as poverty and mental health issues, by providing support services to at-risk communities.
5. Alternative Livelihood Programs: Provide farmers in drug-producing regions with viable alternative crops and resources to help them transition away from illegal cultivation. Support for sustainable agriculture and market development can help reduce the appeal of illegal drug production.
6. Community and Social Support Systems: Create strong community-based programs aimed at providing economic opportunities, job training, and support for those affected by addiction. Community programs that focus on mental health and rehabilitation can help break the cycle of trafficking and abuse.
7. Criminal Justice Reforms: Ensure that penalties for drug trafficking are severe enough to deter criminal activity but also focus on rehabilitation for offenders involved in low-level trafficking. A balanced approach that includes treatment, education, and reintegration programs can reduce recidivism.
Conclusion
Drug trafficking poses a serious threat to national security, public health, and social stability in India. Driven by economic incentives, high demand, poverty, political instability, and organized crime, it fuels violence, terrorism, and corruption. India’s proximity to drug-producing regions like Myanmar further complicates the issue. Combating this requires a multi-pronged approach: strengthening border security with advanced technologies, enhancing international cooperation, improving law enforcement, and tackling corruption. Additionally, demand reduction, alternative livelihoods for farmers, and community support systems are essential to breaking the cycle of trafficking.
Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (Eng) 11th Jan 2025
Prelims Question:
Q. With reference to drug trafficking in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. India shares porous borders with several countries, including Myanmar and Pakistan, making it a key transit point for drug trafficking.
2. Cannabis is not a major drug trafficking concern in India, with methamphetamines and heroin being the primary substances trafficked.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
Mains Question:
Q. “Drug trafficking poses a severe challenge to national security, public health, and economic stability in India. Discuss the factors contributing to its prevalence and suggest measures to combat this growing menace.
(250 words, 15 marks)
No Comments