In a decisive step to intensify the fight against narcotics in Tripura, Anurag Garg, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), conducted a comprehensive review of the state’s anti-drug strategy, calling for a shift towards a network-centric enforcement approach to dismantle trafficking operations.
Chairing a high-level meeting with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Garg emphasized that enforcement efforts must go beyond isolated arrests and focus on breaking the backbone of organised drug syndicates. He stressed that targeting entire networks—rather than individual offenders—would yield more sustainable results in curbing drug trafficking.
A key area of concern highlighted during the meeting was the continued prevalence of illegal cannabis cultivation in parts of the state. Garg called for intensified and coordinated action to identify and destroy such cultivation, describing it as a major contributor to the local drug economy.
Outlining enforcement priorities, the NCB chief underscored the importance of going after major traffickers and kingpins who operate behind the scenes. He directed officials to ensure robust investigation and prosecution to secure convictions. Garg also recommended invoking provisions of the PITNDPS Act against habitual offenders, noting that stronger legal measures are essential to create an effective deterrent.
Highlighting the role of technology in modern policing, Garg advocated the use of NATGRID for data-driven investigations. He stressed the importance of financial tracking and intelligence sharing to disrupt the economic foundations of drug networks, thereby weakening their operational capabilities.
The meeting also focused on enhancing the operational capacity of the ANTF to lead anti-drug initiatives more effectively. Officials were directed to make NCORD meetings more result-oriented and to actively utilise State-level Joint Coordination Committee platforms to strengthen inter-agency coordination.
The review reflects a sharpened, multi-pronged strategy by the Centre to combat narcotics in Tripura, combining enforcement, technology, and coordination to dismantle drug trafficking networks at their roots.
