The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday stressed that seizing narcotics alone cannot make the country drug-free and enforcement agencies must target for destroying all channels between traffickers and consumers.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday stressed that seizing narcotics alone cannot make the country drug-free and enforcement agencies must target for destroying all channels between traffickers and consumers.

Addressing the regional meeting on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' at Guwahati, the Home Minister said under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', a target to destroy 75,000 kg narcotics was set but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country so far destroyed over 1.5 lakh kg narcotics , which is more than double the target set.

During the regional meeting, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha along with Chief Secretary J K Sinha and DGP Amitabh Ranjan were also present with other NE states CMs, CSs, DGPs and heads of other security agencies.

While chairing a meeting with Chief Ministers of Northeastern states and top police officials in Guwahati, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that stern actions would be taken to check the drug menace in the region.

After destroying 1.5 lakh narcotics, the war against drugs is not yet finished. The country is now dreaming for a drugs-free India and for that, all stakeholders should work together, said Shah.

Shah further said that the Union Government has formulated a two-fold approach to deal with the drug menace which has spread all over the country.

Strong actions will be taken against those involved in drug peddling, while those who are the victim and fell into this vicious cycle, government machinery will work to bring them into the mainstream of the society, said Shah.

The Union Home Minister also said that narcotic substances were primarily smuggled into the country from Myanmar and Afghanistan. In the meeting with NCB officials and security personnel he directed to increase the vigil along all international borders.

The security of the nation can only be ensured if drug trafficking and all related channels are destroyed as insurgency, arms smuggling, and other anti-national activities are linked to trafficking, he said. Shah also said insurgency along with arms trade and drug trafficking are two sides of a coin.

He also urged the law-enforcing, health, revenue, and social revenue departments to adopt a strategy for ensuring that drug trafficking is stopped.

He urged the chief ministers, chief secretaries, and director generals of police of the Northeastern states to adopt strategies to eradicate drug menace from the region.

Apart from the NCB Guwahati zonal unit, three new zones at Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have been approved while a new regional office will come up at Guwahati, said Shah.