Amit Shah Announces Three-Year Roadmap to Tackle Drug Menace, Calls for ‘Ruthless’ Action on Supply Chain

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that a three-year roadmap will be prepared to fight the drug menace, along with a time-bound review mechanism, even as he emphasised a "collective ruthless approach" towards the drugs supply chain.

Shah on Friday chaired the 9th Apex-Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, and also inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office at Amritsar, Punjab on the occasion.

He said the challenge of drugs is linked more to the issue of narco-terror than to law and order, and is a conspiracy to ruin the upcoming generations of the nation.

Shah said that the health of the youth, their ability to think and perform, and the growing discontent in the society are things that are also linked to the problem of drugs.

The HM said that starting March 31, 2026, a three-year collective campaign will be launched against this problem, in which the working methodology of all pillars against drug abuse will be defined, targets will be set, and time-bound reviews will be done of the steps taken to curb the menace.

According to Shah, during the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country has achieved considerable success in the fight against drugs.

He emphasized that a collective ruthless approach towards the drug supply chain, a strategic approach towards demand reduction, and a humane approach towards harm reduction, is the way forward for a drug free nation.

Shah said that there has been an increase in the number of NCORD meetings, but there is a need to increase it further, adding that district and state-level meetings should be held regularly.

The HM said that the need is to move forward in this fight by strengthening command, compliance, and accountability.

Instead of just meetings, the focus should be on reviewing outcomes of the anti-drugs actions with things like strict action taken against the kingpins of the drug trade, financiers, and logistics routes should be the subject of review in the meetings.

According to HM, during 2004 to 2013, drugs worth Rs 40,000 crore, amounting to 26 lakh kilograms, were seized, whereas from 2014 to 2025, drugs worth Rs 1 lakh 71 thousand crores, amounting to 1 crore 11 lakh kilograms, have been seized.

There has been eleven-fold increase in the quantity of drugs disposed- off, and that in 2020, opium crop on 10,770 acres of land was destroyed, and by November 2025, crops on 40 thousand acres of land have been destroyed.

Shah highlighted the role of the Forensic Science Laboratories, stating that these labs have a crucial role in the fight against drugs. Notably, the NCORD mechanism has a four-tier structure with an Apex Level, which is headed by the union Home Secretary, Executive Level headed by Special Secretary, MHA, State Level headed by Chief Secretaries and the District Level-headed by the District Magistrates.

The NCORD mechanism was established in 2016 to enhance coordination between the centre, states and the stakeholders concerned, in a bid to address the drug menace in a holistic manner.