2 months, 29 convictions: NCB starts 2025 with blows to cartels

NEW DELHI: In a significant blow to international drug cartels, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) secured convictions in a dozen cases across country in first two months of the year.

The convictions have resulted in 29 hardcore drug traffickers being found guilty, Union home minister Amit Shah said Sunday.

In a post on X, Shah said, "Modi government is unsparing in punishing drug traffickers who drag our youth into the dark abyss of addiction for the greed of money. As a result of a foolproof investigation with a bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom strategy, 29 drug traffickers have been convicted by the court in 12 different cases across India. We pledge to continue combating the drug menace with ruthless and meticulous investigations to build a drug-free Bharat."

The convictions happened in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Dehradun, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata and Lucknow between Jan and Feb.

Convictions under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act are challenging to secure due to stringent requirements of proof and need to establish culpability beyond reasonable doubt. "NDPS Act mandates that prosecution prove the accused's guilt through credible search and seizures besides clear links, which can be difficult to obtain, especially in cases where the accused may have taken steps to conceal their involvement," an officer said. Further, the Act's emphasis on need for corroborative evidence, such as witness testimony or forensic analysis, makes it harder to secure convictions.

The cases where convictions happened involved seizure of narcotics, including charas, ganja, heroin and opium. The convicted individuals were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from one to 15 years, along with fines.

According to NCB, in Ahmedabad, three individuals were convicted and sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for possessing 23.8kg charas. In Bhopal, four individuals were convicted and sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh each for trafficking 123kg ganja.

In Chandigarh, two individuals were convicted and sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for attempting to transport 438g opium to Canada. A Zimbabwean national was convicted and sentenced to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3 lakh for possessing 2.9kg heroin in Kochi.