44,000 kg narcotics destroyed at 14 locations across country

As part of the Iconic week of AKAM celebrations of the Ministry of Finance, CBIC conducted a drug destruction day virtually. A total of around 44,000 kg narcotics were destroyed at 14 locations across the country in a safe and non-hazardous manner through the incineration approved by the State Pollution Control Boards. CBIC and its field formation conducted a week-long destruction of seized/confiscated narcotics from December 6 to 12, 2021 and around 36 metric tonnes (MT) of narcotics were destroyed as part of the Iconic week of AKAM celebrations of the Ministry of Finance. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday interacted with the officers of Customs, and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) present on the destruction sites who narrated the details of seizures and the process of doing destruction. Sitharaman virtually witnessed the destruction of drugs held at 6 sites — Kutch in Gujarat, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Virudhunagar in Tamilnadu, Patna in Bihar and Siliguri in West Bengal. Smt. Sitharaman appreciated the efforts made by the officers of Customs and DRI and congratulated them.

This event will highlight our commitment to people that we shall be earnest in our job to bring logical end to every smuggler, both through court of law & through destruction of material which they bring in.

- Smt @nsitharaman at Drug Destruction Day organised by @cbic_india pic.twitter.com/vJBAdGXycL

— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) June 8, 2022

During the year 2022 the DRI seized 52 kg of Cocaine at Mundra Port, 205 kg of Heroin from Kandla Port and 396 kg of Heroin at Pipavav Port. Illicit drug trade is a growing menace in today’s world. India’s geographical proximity to the major opiate cultivation region has traditionally made India both as a destination and transit route for opiates produced in the region. The money raised through such illegal trade is getting diverted into terror related activities, of which India is a victim.