New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will inaugurate the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Heads of States and Union Territories in New Delhi on September 22, as India steps up coordination against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
The two-day conference will bring together ANTF heads from all 36 States and Union Territories, along with representatives of government departments and other stakeholders. The discussions will focus on implementing the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–29) and strengthening the country’s anti-narcotics response.
Drug Cartels, Synthetic Drugs and Darknet on Agenda
The conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), will focus on emerging challenges in drug trafficking and ways to strengthen enforcement.
Key areas of discussion will include:
- Dismantling drug networks and cartels
- Tackling synthetic drugs and illicit precursor chemicals
- Investigating darknet-based drug trafficking
- Crypto-related investigations
- Destruction of illicit cultivation and promotion of alternate crops
- Strengthening prevention, rehabilitation and demand-reduction measures
The conference will be held under the theme “United Resolve, Shared Responsibility”, highlighting coordination between central agencies, State and UT ANTFs and other stakeholders.
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Vision Document 2026–29 to Guide Anti-Narcotics Strategy
A major focus of the meeting will be the recently released Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029).
The document’s approach is structured around four strategic pillars: enforcement, intelligence and operations; control of precursors and synthetic drugs; demand and harm reduction; and capacity building and coordination.
Eight technical sessions have been planned during the conference to examine institutional mechanisms, drug networks, demand reduction, enforcement effectiveness, synthetic drugs, illicit cultivation and digital investigations.
The deliberations are intended to help States and central agencies identify practical strategies for the next three years.
New NCB Zone Complexes Coming Up in Lucknow and Dehradun
Alongside the conference, Amit Shah will lay the foundation stones for new Narcotics Control Bureau Zone complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun.
The move will add to the NCB’s infrastructure in the two cities and support its work in the respective regions.
Shah will also release television commercials aimed at increasing public awareness about the harmful effects of drugs. The event will also feature the felicitation of the best-performing ANTF among the States and Union Territories and the launch of the revamped NCB website.
Focus on a Coordinated Anti-Drug Response
The conference seeks to strengthen what the government describes as a whole-of-government approach to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse.
The discussions will bring State and central agencies together to review existing efforts, identify gaps and improve coordination. Particular attention will go towards both supply reduction and measures related to prevention, rehabilitation and harm reduction.
The emphasis on darknet and crypto investigations also reflects the changing nature of drug trafficking, where digital platforms and financial channels can create new challenges for enforcement agencies.
Strengthening the Fight Against Drug Abuse
The government has linked its narcotics-control efforts with the broader objective of protecting young people from the harmful effects of drug abuse.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the conference is intended to generate actionable strategies and strengthen the partnership between the NCB and State/UT ANTFs.
The wider objective is to improve India’s ability to detect and dismantle drug networks while strengthening prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
With State and central agencies coming together under a common roadmap, the two-day conference will focus on building a more coordinated and future-ready response to drug trafficking and substance abuse across the country.
