Home minister Amit Shah said at a meeting at Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) that cargo containers at all Indian ports will have to be scanned for contraband.
According to sources, the minister instructed that authorities at private and state-run ports will have to make arrangements for container scanners and related equipment. Concerned authorities will also have to build a pool of dog squads that can sniff out outlawed narcotics, he said.
He further said that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will frame a policy in this regard in coordination with the National Security Guard so that law enforcement agencies in all states have access to canine squads that can detect illegal drug consignments.
The directions come three months after 3,000 kg of high quality Afghan heroin worth ₹210 billion was caught by the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence at Gujarat’s Mundra Port run by Adani Group.
The government and security agencies have been struggling to stop drug smuggling through containers, as it was deemed impossible for law enforcers to physically check every container entering the country.
Among other key decisions taken during the NCORD meeting to deal with the drugs smuggling include forming a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force under state police chiefs, which will work as state NCORD secretariats; putting in place an effective system to stop increasing use of Dark Net and cryptocurrency in illegal drugs trade; and using drones, satellites and other technology to keep a watch on illegal drug cultivation across the country, the home ministry said in a statement.
NCB chief S N Pradhan, home secretary Ajay Bhalla, state chief secretaries, chiefs of paramilitary forces and other central agencies were among those who attended the meeting on Monday.
