Meghalaya: HYC calls for NCB office in Shillong to strengthen drug control efforts

Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has called upon the Meghalaya government to advocate for the establishment of a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office in Shillong with the Central government.

In a press briefing on Saturday following a meeting of the HYC's Central Executive Committee (CEC), president Roy Kupar Synrem underscored the urgent need for an NCB presence in the state to effectively monitor and combat drug smuggling from neighboring states and countries.

Citing recent statements by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityananda Rai, who identified Meghalaya as a transit route for drug trafficking from Manipur, Synrem emphasized that the absence of an NCB office in the state despite rising drug-related issues was a significant oversight.

He argued that a dedicated NCB presence would facilitate better coordination and stronger monitoring of drug activities.

To complement the NCB's efforts, Synrem proposed the creation of a specialized police unit solely dedicated to investigating drug trafficking cases.

He suggested that this unit could either be a newly formed Special Police Unit or an extension of the existing Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).

The unit's primary focus should be on drug-related matters, from preventing illegal entry into the state to handling cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Synrem further stressed the importance of providing adequate training to officers assigned to this unit to equip them with the necessary skills to combat drug trafficking effectively under the NDPS Act.