Narco Terrorism: Indian War against Youth
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Introduction
Narco-terrorism is the threatening convergence of drug smuggling and the terrorist acts, as the illegal drug traffic money is invested in terrorist circles and extremists. The term was originally coined in 1983 to refer to drug traffickers employing terrorist tactics, however, over time the term has developed into an international security issue particularly in areas such as the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand).
Development of Narco-Terrorism in India
The cross-border trafficking of drugs has exposed India to the vulnerability of the country due to its closeness to major drug producing regions of the world. The Taliban reentry into Afghanistan has increased opium production further and there has been the use of drones to drop narcotics into neighboring states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Northeast border states. Drug trafficking has been a systematic way which terrorist groups have used in addition to ISI-sponsored groups to finance militancy, destabilize the economy, and fuel subversive activities.
Narco-Terrorism has created challenges
- Geographical boundaries and porous boundaries are large; thus, tracing becomes a challenge.
- Lack of manpower and equipment among the anti-narcotics agencies is an impediment to effective enforcement.
- High-tech applications like drones, dark web, and cryptocurrency help drug traffickers go undetected.
- Security concerns are so often neglected in favor of political and financial interests, and the anti-drug laws are imposed insignificantly.
Impact of Narco-Terrorism
- Terrorism financing: Terrorist activities are funded with drug money, weapons purchased and networks maintained at the underground levels.
- Juvenile addiction: Narco-terrorism is aimed at the youth, which results in high drug addictions, health complications, and unproductive activities.
- Social and economic harm: With greater drug abuse, there is more HIV, crime, and instability, which is a blow to the demographic dividend of India.
- Money laundering: Money is laundered through hawala and other illegal systems disrupting the financial system with drug money.
State Initiatives and Interventions
- Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD): It was created in 2019 in order to enhance inter-agency coordination and intelligence sharing.
- Seizure Information Management System (SIMS): e-portal within NDPS Act to facilitate the enforcement of drug laws in an easier way.
- Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): It is the nodal agency which implements the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
- Drug Demand Reduction, National Policy: It is based on rehabilitation, awareness, and addiction reduction in the youth.
Way Forward
- Empowerment of NCB: NCB requires sufficient man power, technology and funds to be able to control the drug effectively.
- Cooperation with financial institutions: Improved scrutiny of suspicious bank dealings in preventing money laundering.
- Technology adoption: Division of drones, AI, and data analytics to monitor drug offences.
- Social rehabilitation: Counseling and support systems of the youth in vulnerable areas that are affected.
- Regional cooperation:Enhance intelligence sharing and collaborative operations with SAARC, BIMSTEC and UNODC.
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