ITANAGAR, Sep 19: Arunachal Pradesh has stepped up coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking, substance abuse and illicit cultivation, with Chief Secretary reviewing the State’s anti-narcotics strategy at the 9th State-Level Narcotics Coordination Committee (NCORD) meeting held on Friday.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination among enforcement agencies and district administrations, improving surveillance mechanisms and ensuring effective monitoring of drug-related cases.
The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of holding District NCORD meetings regularly and maintaining accurate and timely reporting on the NCORD portal. He also called for greater deployment of drones for surveillance and systematic tracing of forward and backward linkages in cases registered under the NDPS Act.
The meeting reviewed the progress made in destroying illicit drug crops, with 18,587 acres of opium poppy and 64.59 acres of cannabis cultivation reportedly destroyed so far.
The Chief Secretary directed the concerned agencies to maintain sustained action against illegal cultivation and to initiate action against landowners wherever applicable.
He also called for a robust SOP for surveillance of drug offenders and emphasised the need to intensify drug-awareness programmes across the State.
The meeting underscored the importance of stronger inter-agency coordination and a sustained, coordinated approach involving all stakeholders to curb the spread of drugs and advance the State’s objective of a drug-free Arunachal Pradesh.