Nation-wide fortnightly anti-narcotics drives to begin in September
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has asked all states and central agencies to carry out 24 special anti-narcotics drives, each lasting a fortnight, until August next year, officials told the Press Trust of India (PTI). The year-long campaign, which will begin in September, is designed to supplement the regular work and time-bound targets set under the national Vision Document for Narcotics Control 2026-29.
The action plan, as described in the NCB's communication to states, will involve a series of focused enforcement and awareness initiatives. According to officials, these coordinated drives are intended to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and contribute to the goal of a drug-free India, or 'Nasha Mukt Bharat'.
Phased enforcement from September
The enforcement activities are set to commence in September, with the first fortnight dedicated to identifying foreigners involved in drug-related crimes for deportation, followed by a 15-day drive targeting absconding narcotics offenders. This will build on an awareness programme for students in schools and colleges that has been ongoing since August 16.
From October, the NCB, along with State and Union Territory Anti-Narcotics Task Forces, will inspect medical stores and pharmacies in coordination with local drug controllers to check the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs for narcotics trafficking. The action plan reportedly includes separate fortnights for preparing dossiers against drug crime fugitives and creating awareness among coastal communities about the maritime drug trade.
Coordinated checks at all land, sea and airports are scheduled for the second half of December. The second fortnight of January 2027 will focus on detecting and destroying illicit cultivation. This will be followed by an awareness drive in the chemical industries against the diversion of precursor chemicals in the first half of February and a joint inspection of jails in the second half of that month.
Special focus areas and training
Beyond the core enforcement calendar, the action plan envisages special fortnights to engage youth in sports, conduct drug-free campus verification exercises in educational institutions, and train anti-narcotics government agents to scan the darknet, cryptocurrency, synthetic drugs, and clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories. This comprehensive approach indicates a multi-pronged strategy involving law enforcement, public awareness, and inter-agency coordination, all under the umbrella of the National Vision Document for Narcotics Control 2026-29.