Shah flags 'poor record' in use of law, calls for joint fight on drugs

Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday flagged the under-utilisation of the provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, which allows detention of drug traffickers, as he urges states to make use of the law to break the ecosystem of drug trade in the country.

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Chairing a regional conference on Drug Trafficking and National Security in the Capital, the home minister also said that dark web, cryptocurrency, and drones continue to pose a challenge for the country.

"There is a poor record of states using the provisions of the PITNDPS Act. Only two states have used it while it is zero for all other states," Shah said.

"Punjab has used it once and Delhi has used it 13 cases. Rest all states and UTs have not used the provision of the PITNDPS. I urge everyone that the strict law has been made keeping in mind how heinous such a crime is," he said, citing a survey which revealed that 7% citizens consume drugs.