Crypto
The Union Home Minister has hinted at more regulations on cryptocurrency, dark web, and drones. | Image:
Reuters
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplace and drones continue to be a challenge for the country and these have to be checked by strict measures. Chairing a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ in New Delhi, Shah also asserted that the country will not allow even a single kg of drugs to be smuggled in or out of the country.
He said the government has not only been successful in eliminating many networks of drugs, but the terrorism linked with them too was also destroyed. He said many cases of narco-terrorism were busted in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and these were major achievements.
Crypto Need for a joint effort
“The use of dark web, cryptocurrency, online marketplace, drones continue to be a challenge for us even today,” he said. Shah said a technical solution to these problems has to be found through joint efforts by the states and the central government and technocrats for the country’s security and development.
He said the fight against drugs has gained a new strength under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s leadership. “In the last 10 years, there has been a seven-fold increase in the seizure of drugs which is a major achievement. The Modi government has given a strong message of destroying the entire ecosystem of drugs through strict action,” he said.
Crypto Crackdown on drugs
The home minister said that in 2024, by seizing drugs worth Rs 16,914 crore, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and police across the country took the biggest action against drugs, which is a significant step in making a drug-free society. “No country can move forward on the path of development with a young generation suffering from drug addiction. It is our responsibility that we all fight this challenge together and make all efforts to win this battle,” he said.
Shah said that during 2004-14, a total of 3.63 kg of drugs were seized while during 2014-24, altogether 24 lakh kg of drugs were seized – a seven-fold increase as compared to the previous decade. He said drugs worth Rs 8,150 crore were disposed off in 2004-14 but in 2014-24, drugs worth Rs 54,851 crore were destroyed - eight times more than the previous decade.
The conference, organised by the NCB, aims to address the growing concern of drug trafficking and its impact on national security, with a special focus on eight states and Union Territories of northern India.
Shah also launched the drug disposal fortnight starting from Saturday to January 25. He said that during this period, one lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 8,600 crore will be destroyed. The home minister also inaugurated the new office complex of the NCB’s Bhopal zonal unit and the extension of the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and UTs.
The main focus of the conference is on the sharing of real-time information from the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ portal with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of states and UTs, evaluat
