The Indian government is escalating its efforts to eradicate drug trafficking within the country. A major operation is underway to deport over 16,000 foreign nationals who have been found to be involved in the illegal drug trade. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is spearheading this initiative, which aims to remove individuals implicated in drug-related crimes from Indian territory.
The foreign nationals facing deportation hail from various countries, including Bangladesh, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Ghana, and Nigeria. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) provided the reports that formed the basis for this government action. These individuals are accused of engaging in various drug-related activities, from trafficking to distribution.
The deportation process is set to commence soon and will be conducted under the provisions of new immigration laws. The detained individuals are currently housed in detention centers across different states.
Significant progress has been made in curbing the flow of drugs. In the last 10 years, over one crore kilograms of drugs have been seized. Furthermore, the MHA disclosed that drugs worth more than ₹11,311 crore were confiscated from seaports in the last five years, spanning 19 different cases. These figures were presented in the Lok Sabha in response to inquiries concerning drug seizures at ports. The seizures encompassed cases from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, with the seized drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and tramadol.