The maiden BIMSTEC Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking was recently held in New Delhi, India. The event was hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the country’s main agency for enforcing drug laws. The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) represents an international institution comprising 7 nations – India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – that encircle the Bay of Bengal area as well as its neighboring regions.
The Significance of the Drug Menace
Drug trafficking is an illicit global trade, involving the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sales of substances which fall under drug prohibition laws. A revelation from the UN’s World Drug Report highlights that over 5% of the world population, aged between 15-64, is addicted to narcotics and illicit drugs. This BIMSTEC conference aimed at fostering an environment where all member states could deliberate on the escalating threats posed by drug trafficking, and discuss collective measures to mitigate these dangers.
BIMSTEC’s Role in Countering Drug-Trafficking
The prosperity and economic growth of the BIMSTEC region are largely dependent on regional maritime connectivity and trade along the Bay of Bengal. However, drug trafficking through sea routes emerges as a significant security challenge for this region. This mandates the necessity for all countries to engage in discourse, exchange ideas, policies, and best practices to battle this menace. Asian countries are being increasingly affected by drug trafficking, and BIMSTEC, as a critical bridge connecting South Asian and South East Asian nations, has an opportunity to be an effective platform to fight this global threat.
India’s Stance on Drug-Trafficking
India also finds itself caught in the throes of illegal drug trafficking, often acting as a transit point for illicit opiates. It sits between two of the world’s most prominent illegal opium production regions – The Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the West, and The Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the East. Areas such as Manipur and Mizoram, which share a border with Myanmar, along with other coastal states, are sensitive and could potentially act as gateways for illicit drugs entering the country.
To safeguard itself against this threat, India has adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy towards all forms of narcotics and psychotropic substances, aligning with its vision of a Drug-free India. Moreover, to aid various drug enforcement agencies, India has begun digitalising drug data through an e-portal. This initiative will assist in creating a centralized database that can be accessed by law enforcement authorities for effective counter-narcotic operations.
BIMSTEC’s joint efforts to deal with drug trafficking are a step in the right direction. Through collaboration and exchange of best practices, this group of nations can significantly contribute to global initiatives aimed at eliminating the illicit trade and use of drugs.
Source: PIB