Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026-2029, calling for a technology-driven and ruthless crackdown on drug traffickers while emphasizing compassion for addicted youth, stronger rehabilitation, and coordinated national efforts to achieve a drug-free India.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday unveiled the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026-2029, urging law enforcement agencies across the country to adopt a technology-driven, intelligence-led and “ruthless” approach against drug traffickers while emphasizing compassion and rehabilitation for young people struggling with drug addiction.
Chairing the 10th Apex-Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in the national capital, Shah said India can make significant progress in its fight against narcotics if all agencies work collectively with a coordinated strategy over the next three years.
Addressing senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), state governments and various drug law enforcement agencies, the Home Minister stressed that the country’s anti-drug campaign must increasingly rely on modern technology, intelligence gathering and coordinated network-based operations.
“Our response must be intelligence-led. We need to adopt a technology-driven approach. We will have to fight using a network-centric strategy. We must move forward with a ruthless approach; only then can we achieve victory against this challenge,” Shah said during the meeting.
However, the Home Minister clarified that such a “ruthless approach” should be directed solely at drug traffickers and criminal networks involved in the illegal narcotics trade. He stressed that authorities should treat young people affected by substance abuse with compassion and ensure they receive proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to building a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India), Shah called upon all stakeholders to intensify anti-drug efforts over the next year. He said stronger implementation during this period would help refine strategies and improve the effectiveness of India’s long-term campaign against narcotics over the following two years.
During the event, Shah officially released the NCB Annual Report 2025, which highlights the country’s achievements, enforcement actions and performance indicators in combating drug trafficking during the past year.
He urged officials to carefully study the report and ensure measurable improvements across every performance indicator in the coming year.
“My request is that everyone should carefully read the NCB Annual Report so that, over the coming year, not a single indicator falls below the current level. Instead, every metric should improve significantly and be reflected in the next annual report,” the Home Minister said.
In another significant development, Shah inaugurated newly constructed NCB zonal offices in Jammu and Guwahati, strengthening the agency’s operational capabilities in strategically important regions.
The Home Minister also launched the Online Drug Disposal Fortnight Campaign, praising narcotics control agencies for destroying seized drugs worth Rs 12,525 crore in a single day. He described the large-scale destruction of confiscated narcotics as a major achievement in India’s fight against illegal drug trafficking.
The high-level NCORD meeting, organised jointly by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Narcotics Control Bureau, brought together representatives from central ministries, state governments and multiple enforcement agencies to review the country’s anti-drug strategy and strengthen coordination among institutions.
The newly launched Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026-2029 has been prepared following extensive consultations with stakeholders from across the country. The document is expected to serve as a comprehensive national roadmap for combating the growing drug menace through coordinated action involving prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and public awareness.
The vision document places equal emphasis on reducing both the demand and supply of narcotics while expanding rehabilitation services for individuals affected by substance abuse. It also outlines measures to strengthen awareness campaigns, improve treatment facilities and encourage greater public participation in preventing drug abuse.
Recognising the evolving nature of drug-related crimes, the roadmap specifically addresses emerging threats such as synthetic narcotics and darknet-based drug trafficking. It recommends enhanced technological capabilities, improved intelligence sharing and stronger inter-agency coordination to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
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With the launch of the Vision Document, the Centre aims to strengthen India’s institutional framework against narcotics, ensuring that enforcement agencies remain equipped to tackle both traditional and emerging drug-related challenges while pursuing the broader objective of creating a safer, healthier and drug-free nation.
