Modi govt ruthlessly demolishing drug cartels: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Apr 20: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation , Amit Shah Monday said that Modi govt is ruthlessly demolishing drug cartels and is also ensuring their conviction .
In a post on X, Shri Amit Shah said, “To protect our youth from the scourge of drugs, the Modi govt is ruthlessly demolishing drug cartels and is also ensuring their conviction. Under this mission, the NCB has made a breakthrough of getting 73 drug offenders convicted in the first three months of 2026, with harshest punishments. We are determined to shut every breathing space of drug rackets with entire might. Congratulations to NCB for this achievement.”
In the first quarter of 2026, i.e., from January to March, NCB secured convictions of 73 drug offenders in 35 cases. Out of these, four were awarded the maximum sentence of 20 years, while 54 others were awarded sentences of 10 years or more. A total fine of Rs. 1.22 crore was also imposed on the convicts.
NCB’s focused approach to trial monitoring has led to a steady increase in the conviction rate from 60.5% in 2024 to 65.5% in 2025 and now to 68.6% in the first quarter of 2026.
The important convictions include international heroin smuggling cases involving seizures of 2.757 kg of heroin at Ahmedabad Airport in 2021 and 4.235 kg of heroin at the Fazilka Indo-Pak border in 2022. In these cases, two foreign traffickers have been awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Another significant conviction was secured in the 2023 pseudoephedrine diversion case (a controlled substance under the NDPS Act) involving M/s Alps Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Sonipat, Haryana. In this case, three accused, including the Director, have been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 1.5 lakh each. The company has also been convicted and fined Rs. 1.5 lakh. The permission granted to the company for manufacture of pseudoephedrine has also been withdrawn by NCB.
NCB has also appealed to other Central and State enforcement agencies to identify key under-trial cases involving drug kingpins and ensure effective prosecution. This approach to dismantling drug cartels is a key element of the enforcement strategy to effectively address the challenge of drug trafficking in the country, while reaffirming the Government’s zero-tolerance policy against drug abuse. (PIB)