New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has praised the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for securing the conviction of 73 drug offenders in the first three months of 2026, describing it as a significant step in the government’s crackdown on narcotics networks.
In a post on social media platform X, the Home Minister said the government is “ruthlessly demolishing drug cartels” to protect youth from the menace of drugs and ensuring strict convictions under the law. He congratulated the NCB for its “breakthrough achievement” and reaffirmed the Centre’s zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking.
According to official data, the NCB secured convictions in 35 cases between January and March 2026. Out of the 73 convicted offenders, four were awarded the maximum punishment of 20 years rigorous imprisonment, while 54 others received sentences of 10 years or more. A total fine of ₹1.22 crore was also imposed on the convicts.
The agency’s conviction rate has shown steady improvement, rising from 60.5% in 2024 to 65.5% in 2025, and further reaching 68.6% in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting strengthened trial monitoring and enforcement strategies.
Among the notable cases were international heroin trafficking operations, including seizures of 2.757 kg of heroin at Ahmedabad Airport in 2021 and 4.235 kg at the Fazilka Indo-Pak border in 2022. In these cases, foreign traffickers were awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
In another major case involving diversion of pseudoephedrine—a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act—three accused linked to a Haryana-based pharmaceutical company were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines. The company itself was fined, and its manufacturing licence for the substance was revoked.
The NCB has also urged other central and state agencies to strengthen prosecution in pending cases involving major drug traffickers. Officials said coordinated enforcement and sustained legal action remain central to dismantling drug cartels and addressing the challenge of narcotics trafficking in India.
