The Ministry of Home Affairs has held the third national conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads from all states and union territories in New Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the event and announced a structured roadmap to combat drug trafficking across the country. The conference brings together senior law enforcement officials and government departments to coordinate anti-drug efforts.
What the government has planned
The Home Ministry has released a Vision Document 2026-2029 that sets specific targets and timelines for reducing drug trafficking. The government aims to uproot the drug trade from India by 31 December 2029. The roadmap is built on four main areas: enforcement operations, intelligence gathering, control of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, and reducing drug demand through awareness and rehabilitation.
The government has registered 46,780 Nashamukt Mitras so far under a volunteer programme. These volunteers will visit 10 lakh schools, colleges and institutions across the country to raise awareness among young people and educate campus leaders about drug dangers.
At the conference, the Home Minister launched television advertisements against drug abuse, unveiled a redesigned website for the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and laid foundation stones for new NCB regional offices in Lucknow and Dehradun.
The strategy involves categorising districts into three types based on drug activity: manufacturing or entry points, transportation corridors, and consumption areas. The government plans to pursue financial investigations alongside traditional drug seizures, targeting the money earned by drug dealers. It also intends to deport foreign nationals involved in drug crimes and blacklist them to prevent re-entry into India.
What this means for you
If you work in law enforcement, education or social services, you can expect greater coordination with anti-drug campaigns in your area over the next three years. Young people and students will encounter increased awareness activities in schools and colleges about the dangers of drug abuse. The government is signalling that it views drug addiction as a public health and social crisis requiring urgent attention across all administrative levels, from district police stations to state governments.