Impact of Drug Trafficking on Crime Rate in India: An Analytical Study

I. Introduction

Drug trafficking and crime rates are complicatedly interlinked with each other and causing threat to the society, public health and social stability. Drug is a substance, which is used to prevent or treat body of a disease or its abnormal condition. There are two types of drugs, which is legal drugs and illegal drugs. The drugs such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, etc are legal drugs which should be used in a limited level as prescribed. Other than these are illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroine, ecstasy, amphetamines etc that cause harmful effect to the body and may also leads to death. Drug trafficking is an illicit trade that involves selling, manufacturing, importing and exporting of illegal drugs. Drug trafficking, increase crime rate in India day by day. Let’s see how drug trafficking increase crime rate in India and steps took by the government to prevent drug trafficking.

(A) Research question

• How drug trafficking impact the society in India?
• Does existing laws are effective to control drug trafficking?
• How drug trafficking increase crime rates in India?
• What are the preventive measures available in existing laws of drugs trafficking?

(B) Research Methodology

This research paper is analytical research, which is done by collecting data’s from different research articles, newspapers, journals and other internet sources based on the topic.

(C) Hypothesis

The present, existing laws are not much effective to reduce the crime rates in India. The drug trafficking on crime rates have been on the rise in India, but laws have somehow controlled the crime rates in some states.

II. Way of drug trafficking in india

Drug trafficking in India originated from international networks which operates across the regions and countries is known as golden crescent and golden triangle. Golden crescent comprising illicit opium production areas in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, from these areas drug like heroin often enter India through Punjab and Gujarat. Golden triangle which is the second largest opium production region in the world, it supplies drugs to the northeastern states such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos. While heroin produced in the Golden Crescent is trafficked Through the southern route, Drug production in the golden triangle has shifted to methamphetamines, Including Yaba, A highly addictive pill that combines methamphetamines and caffeine, smuggled into South and Southeast Asian countries. Yaba has become widely popular in Bangladesh, where the drug is trafficked into the country through Naf River, a fluvial bordering area with Myanmar.^[1]

India’s long coastline also facilitates maritime drug smuggling, particularly through state like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. These areas are notorious for producing drugs like heroin and opium which are then trafficked into India.

According to the latest report by Narcotics control bureau drug trafficking in ocean route in the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal estimated to account around 70 % of the illegal drugs has been smuggled into India.^[2]

III. Impact of drug trafficking in India

Drug trafficking is a criminal network traffic a range of drugs including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and synthetics such as methamphetamine and fentanyl. As international borders become increasingly porous, global abuse and accessibility to drugs have become increasingly widespread.^[3]

This international trade involves growers, producers, transporters, suppliers and dealers. It affects all of our member countries, undermining political and economic stability, ruining the lives of individuals and damaging communities. The end users and addicts are often the victims of a powerful and manipulative business.^[4]

Drugs which were supplied by the dealers are mostly reaching to the students or youngsters. The usage of drug has been popularly used by youths. Usage of drug, influence to do criminal activities such as theft, murder etc. The drugs trafficking is often linked with organised crime which leads rise in criminal rate and rival gangs may also engage in violent confrontations over territory and control. The rise in drug trafficking leads to increase health issues such as addiction, mental health issues, and the infectious disease like HIV due to sharing of needle. Particularly the young people are at risk the usage drugs leads to increased rate of addiction and loss of potential. Addiction affects individuals ability to do work and it will reduce overall economic productivity. And significant resources are allocated to combat drug trafficking which divert funds from other critical areas. Drug trafficking often leads to corruption within law enforcement and political systems. And sometime it may affect international relations, it can strain relationships between countries especially if one nation is seen as major source or transit point for drugs.

Drug trafficking has increasingly become common in India due to a host of factors such as agricultural land across the borders and various riverine portions. This well oiled machinery of drug circulation creates a massive illicit market, amplifies social conflict breed conflicts corruptions and affects socio economic issues such as poverty, joblessness and socio political disturbances that further encourage drug consumption and use. The two way illegal flow of these drugs violates India’s borders and poses a significant threat to national security.^[5]

IV. Preventive measures to reduce drug trafficking

To tackle illicit drug trafficking in India laws were been present even during the 50s. The Opium Act of 1857, the Opium Act of 1878 and The Dangerous drugs Act of 1930. However all these three laws have been repealed and currently Narcotics Drugs and psychotropic Substances Act 1985 has taken the position in place of these three.^[6]

The Narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances Act 1985 was enacted ‘to consolidate and reform legislation pertaining to narcotics drugs as well as to provide strict measures for the control and regulation of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances activities.’^[7]

The legislation makes it illegal “to produce, manufacture, cultivate, own, sell, transfer, purchase, or consume any Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.” The term“narcotic” in the legal sense is quite different from the one used in the medical context which denotes a sleep inducing agent. Legally, a narcotic drug could be an opiate ( a true narcotic), cannabis ( a non narcotic), or cocaine (the very antithesis of a narcotic, since it is a stimulant). Mind-altering drugs such as LSD, Phencyclidine, amphetamines, barbiturates, methaqualone, benzodiazepines, mescaline, psilocybin, and designer compounds are referred to as “psychotropic substances” (MDMA, DMT, etc).^[8]

Lots of step has been taken by the government to reduce drug trafficking in India such as:

1) The government has introduced and strengthened the 4 tier NCORD mechanism ( Apex, Executive, State and District level) to have effective coordination of actions among various Ministries, Departments, Central and States Law Enforcement agencies dealing with narcotics.

2) Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by ADG/IG level Police Officer has been established in each State/UT.

3) An NCORD portal has been developed which is an all-in-one portal for information related to drug law enforcement.

4) The government has launched 1933- MANAS helpline designed as a unified platform for citizens to report the drug–related issues via multiple communication. It will work as an interface with public for sharing inputs on Narcotics crime or trafficking.

5) To monitor the investigation of significant and important drug cases including cases of narco-terrorism, a joint Coordination Committee (JCC) with DG, NCB as it’s chairman has been setup.

6) A special Task Force on Dark net and Crypto currency has been constituted to monitor suspicious transactions related to drugs on Darknet.

7) To prevent Inter-state movement of narcotic drugs across the country by railway network, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also been empowered under NDPS Act, 1985.

8) NCB has increased its Regional Offices from 03 to 07 and upgraded its Sub-zones to Zones making a total of 30 Zonal units across the country.

9) BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard have been empowered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 to make interdiction of drugs along land and Sea border areas.

10) A high level Multi Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG) has been created in National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to analyse the drug trafficking through maritime routes, challenges and solutions.

11) Narcotics Control Bureau in association with Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) has created a portal called National Integrated Database About arrested NDPS Offenders (NIDAAN).

12) With a view to bring uniformity in Drug Law Enforcement training across India, Narcotics Control Bureau in Collaboration with other departments has developed a core module and five training modules. Training programmes on Digital Forensics, Darknet and crypto currency are also being organized.

13) Nar-K9 pool – a National Canine Pool has been established at 10 locations as a national resource to serve the interests of Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Units as well as cater to the requirements of the States and other Central agencies.

To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and implemented the National action plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse among the youth. This includes:

1) Launching of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country through more than 8000 youth volunteers and has reached out to more than 11 crore people including 3.53 crore youth and 2.34 crore women.

2) 345 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Government to provide treatment for the drug victims, preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counselling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream.

3) 47 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centres supported by the Government focuses on vulnerable and a risk children and adolescents.

4) 74 Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODICS) supported by the Government provide safe and secure space for treatment.^[9]

V. Analyses of Drug Trafficking on crime rate in India

In this table we can see that in most States/UT the drug trafficking cases has been increasing yearly. The drug trafficking is very high in Punjab (7433), Uttar Pradesh (4920), Tamil Nadu (2590), Rajasthan (2428), Madhya Pradesh (2169) and the lowest case reported in Lakshadweep (1), Ladakh (5), Sikkim (19), Puducherry (20), A&N Islands (32), Meghalaya (48). D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu is the only state which doesn’t report any drug trafficking cases. In most of the States/UT the cases of drug trafficking has been decreased from previous year.

Number of cases of Drug seizures involving Darknet, Crypto currencies by Narcotics Control Bureau and Couriers/ parcel as reported by all Drug Law Enforcement Agencies:^[10]

However, the drug use, trafficking and cases reported under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 are rising despite increased law enforcement agency crackdowns on drug cartels in India.

VI. Findings & suggestions

From the above research it shows that the crime rate in India have been drastically increasing in the recent years but there are only limited chances of decrease in crime rate. The top most crimes like corruption, dowry, murder, drug trafficking and cybercrime etc are still prevailing in each and every state. The crime rates can only be reduced if the present offenders are punished for the crime they have committed. The laws which are enacted for the punishment of offenders should be implemented in a proper manner in order to prevent the crime rate in India.

To effective measures of the drug abuse problem, the government should strengthen resistance programs of usage of drugs in the family, school, and health care, communities adopting its community-level approach will look at the problem of drug trafficking and usage holistically through the intertwined web of socio-economic status, instability and geographic location as one of the reasons for increasing drug trafficking and usage among the youth population. There is a need to focus on emphasizing the action against drug abuse among children and adolescents, which should be sustained and there should be a lot of effort to take by the government and improve the coordination between departments with a clear remit for each State agency on developing and policies and practices relating to containing the circulation and consumption of drugs

VII. Conclusion

Drug trafficking on crime rate in India has been increasing from year to year and conviction rate of offenders is very low. The government has to implement more laws related to drug trafficking in India. In every school, colleges, and for every person proper awareness has to be given and the source of drug trafficking should be stopped.

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Footnotes

1. Author is an Advocate & PG Scholar at Dept. of CJS, FIMT college, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India.