New Delhi   

‘Training of drug law enforcement agencies needed’

NEW DELHI: In order to crack down on drug syndicates in South Asia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has sought help from the Indian Government in providing training to the drug law enforcement agencies of the region.

Speaking on the occasion of the release of the 2007 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board here, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) representative Gary Lewis said the proposal for “regional training project” comprising refresher courses for enforcement officials of the region was presently under consideration by the Government.

It is learnt that the UNODC has urged the Government to make arrangements for training programmes at the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics located near Faridabad. The project is aimed at honing the investigative skills of officials in handling narcotic and drug seizure cases. At a press conference, UNODC-ROSA Project Coordinator Rajiv Walia presented highlights of the report that mentioned an increase in the smuggling of heroin (of Afghanistan origin) from Pakistan to India this past year. Narcotics Control Bureau Director-General K.C. Verma said in the last couple of years, opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had doubled, leading to massive production and smuggling of heroin.

While the report mentioned an increase in consumption of cocaine in India, Mr. Verma said at this stage it was not a big cause for concern. However, he said the Government would seriously consider the findings and recommendations made by the report. “There are no concrete inputs establishing that naxals are in the drug trafficking trade,” he said.

The issue of HIV/AIDS spreading through sharing of syringes for injecting heroin and pharmaceuticals, mainly in the North-eastern States, was also discussed.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

‘It is time to turn vegetarian’
Waiting for a new Kishore
Kalam conferred D. Litt degree
Two killed in mishap
Saraswati Samman presented
Spotlight on disaster management
‘Training of drug law enforcement agencies needed’
EC to hear claims of MDMK rebels on Monday
Kodanad Estate moves Supreme Court
DJB offices to remain open on weekends
Art critic to deliver lecture at JNU
National Moot Court competition
Details of working conditions at C’wealth Games site sought
Praying to the Lord
Rape accused acquitted
Murder accused freed after 19 years
Lecture by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Tigress, two cubs ‘sighted’ near Tumkur
High Court issues notice to M.P. Govt.
Protest dharna by NPCC workers
Art that leads to enlightenment
Woman commits suicide
Two young men injured by DTC bus
A lot at stake for Congress in Sunday’s rally
Auto-rickshaw driver commits suicide
Nehru Brigade joins felicitation ceremony
Delhi University asks all its colleges to fall in line
“Need to amend law to deal with custodial deaths”
House full
Teenaged boy dies in scuffle
In the capital today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu