Under the leadership of Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, the fifth state-level meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was convened on Tuesday in Ranchi, marking another crucial step in Jharkhand’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking and abuse.
Senior officials from across the administration, including Home Department Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel, DGP Anurag Gupta, Social Welfare Secretary Manoj Kumar, Excise Secretary Amitabh Kaushal, and School Education Secretary Umakant Singh, attended the meeting, while deputy commissioners and district police superintendents participated via virtual mode.
Chief Secretary Tiwari directed district magistrates and police superintendents to maintain strict vigilance over the production, distribution, and consumption of narcotics across the state. She urged immediate and uncompromising action against individuals and networks involved in the illegal drug trade.
Tiwari also stressed the need for heightened public awareness campaigns alongside legal enforcement, urging departments to clamp down on the sale of narcotic medicines and syrups through unlicensed pharmacies.
In a move to strengthen accountability, she ordered that lists of licensed medical shops be submitted to the Home Secretary so that action against unlicensed outlets can be streamlined and enforced effectively.
Anti-Drug Operations See Unprecedented Results
One of the meeting’s standout revelations was the sharp rise in opium crop destruction over the past year. In 2023-24, 4,860 acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed, but during 2024-25, this figure skyrocketed to 27,015 acres — a sixfold increase attributed to intensified surveillance and enforcement.
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Similarly, drug-related criminal cases surged as enforcement ramped up. In 2023, 529 cases were registered with 773 arrests, while in 2024, the tally climbed to 803 cases and 1,062 arrests — a clear indicator of the state’s tightened grip on narcotics trafficking.
Training, Coordination, and Swift Legal Action
The state has been investing in specialized training for personnel from all enforcement agencies. With the assistance of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), police officers have been receiving ongoing training on critical aspects of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. The Research and Training Institute in Hotwar, Ranchi, has also been conducting courses, now including forest department officials to strengthen cross-agency collaboration.
To ensure uniformity in anti-narcotics efforts, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed for seamless coordination between NCB and state police forces.
Chief Secretary Tiwari emphasized timely and proper disposal of seized narcotic substances, warning districts lagging behind to meet deadlines without delay. She also instructed for the expedited construction of secure storage facilities (maal-khanas) in districts where no designated space has yet been secured. District Commissioners were directed to resolve land and infrastructure bottlenecks proactively.
Citizen Reporting Incentivized via MANAS Portal
A key tool in the anti-drug strategy is the MANAS Portal, launched in July 2024, which allows ordinary citizens to anonymously report information about illegal drug production, distribution, or consumption. Verified reports can earn informants a cash reward while ensuring their identity remains fully confidential.
According to the NCB, the portal has so far collected 60,000 pieces of information nationwide, with 70 specific reports originating from Ranchi alone, highlighting rising public participation in the fight against drugs.
Rapid Testing Kits to Expedite Prosecution
The meeting also saw directives issued for the procurement of drug detection kits within 15 days. These kits — including DD kits, Precursor kits, and Ketamine kits — allow for on-the-spot testing, which accelerates court submissions even before full Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports are available, thereby reducing delays in judicial proceedings.
Discussions also covered the establishment of special courts for narcotics cases and the expansion of financial investigation frameworks to dismantle the economic backbone of the illegal drug trade.
