Asserting that the Union government has prepared a roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029, Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047.
The Modi government is committed to making the country drug-free to realise the dream of a developed India, just as it has worked to end the menace of Naxalism and terrorism, Shah said.
The Centre has adopted a coordinated, nationwide strategy to dismantle the entire narcotics network, from drug trafficking and financing to rehabilitation, as part of its goal of 'Drug-Free India' by 2029, he said.
"It is Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047," Shah said while addressing a press conference after chairing a high level meeting on narcotics that was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as MHA and state government officials.
"Before 2014, the fight against narcotics was largely conducted in small units and isolation. Agencies were often satisfied catching small time accused. Our government is making the fight national security priority," he said.
In 2019, a four-tier National Coordination Committee for Countering Drug Trafficking (NCORD) mechanism was created at the executive, state and district levels to ensure coordinated action against the drug menace.
"Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been constituted in all states and Union Territories and local police have been linked with the national strategy," Shah said.
He said a Joint Coordination Committee was also formed in 2019 to enable central agencies and state governments to take joint decisions against major drug networks, their international connections and operational gaps.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been strengthened by reorganising its cadre and enhancing its manpower, zonal presence and operational capabilities, Shah said while emphasising that the fight against drugs was not just limited to enforcement.
The government has linked awareness, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities with the anti-narcotics campaign, he pointed out, adding that the 1933 MANAS helpline has been introduced to support persons with drug addiction.
The government is committed to achieving the goal of 'Drug-Free India 2029' through political will, coordinated enforcement and measures aimed at preventing addiction and rehabilitating victims, he said.
The Modi government's three-year roadmap to a drug-free India is based on a four-pillared approach to destroy narcotic networks, Shah said.
"These pillars include intelligence and operation-based enforcement, control on synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction and creation of capacity and coordination," he explained.
Under the Narendra Modi regime, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path to progress and development after the decline of terrorism, which is gradually approaching zero there, he said.
The sentiment of separatism has lessened since the abrogation of Article 370, Shah said.
The Modi government's broader internal security strategy had succeeded in addressing three long-standing challenges -- terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and Left-Wing Extremism, Shah said.
"The Modi government has taken various steps to improve and strengthen internal security. Those who dreamt of a 'red' (Maoist) corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati have laid down arms and joined the mainstream," he said.
Referring to the Northeast, Shah said 14 major peace agreements had been signed since 2019 and around 11,000 armed youths had laid down their weapons and joined the mainstream.
He said India ended the nearly six-decade-old challenge of Left-Wing Extremism on March 31, 2026, through a coordinated strategy combining security, development and trust.
"We have eradicated Naxalism and will deal with menace of narcotics in the same manner," the Union minister asserted.
Shah said the Centre has a target to demolish 100 national and international networks by March 2029 and bring back 100 fugitives to the country.
By March 2027, there will be clear end-to-end visibility of the supply chain while at least 75 secret labs would be destroyed in 2026, he said.
He said the government had also adopted a mission-mode approach to bring back fugitives hiding abroad.
Between July 2019 and July 2026, as many as 274 wanted or absconding criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries, he said.
Over the past three years, 401 Red Corner Notices have been issued, including 182 up to July 2026, Shah said.
He said more than 1,400 Central and state agencies were connected through Interpol, facilitating faster information sharing.
Between 2019 and 2026, assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitives were attached, while Rs 18,762 crore was recovered or restored, Shah informed.
Shah also highlighted the government's efforts against cybercrime, saying the cyber system had helped save more than Rs 11,158 crore across 32.8 lakh complaints as of June 30, 2026.
He said strengthening border and coastal security, implementation of three new criminal laws and the Vibrant Villages Programme were among the measures taken to strengthen internal security.
The Union minister said the government has adopted a "zero tolerance" policy towards terrorism and a first-responder approach to disaster management.
He also praised the Goa police for effective implementation of the three new criminal laws saying the conviction rate has increased from 22 percent to 53.2 percent.
(With inputs from PTI)
