Narcotics control dept to get arms, combat dress

The government is going to provide arms, ammunition and combat dress for employees of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) to strengthen it as a full-fledged law enforcement agency, with a view to fighting the menace of drugs.

At the same time, the government is going to provide intelligence equipment like “Mobile Tracker’ and "Drug Remote Detector" for the anti-drug watchdog so that the force can easily detect and pick up drug outlets and peddlers, sources in the home ministry and the DNC said.

For providing arms, ammunition, combat dress and intelligence equipment, the DNC authorities are amending the existing Narcotics Control Act, which is now under scrutiny by the Security Service Division of the home ministry, the sources added.

The government is going to strengthen the DNC at a time when various drugs, such as the madness tablet, yaba, are entering the country from neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar and India, through different border points.

DNC director general (DG) Mohammod Jamal Uddin Ahmed told The Independent that they want to strengthen operational activities of the anti-drug watchdog in line with anti-drug control bodies abroad. “Drug traders and peddlers are more powerful, and they always use modern arms and ammunition. But our personnel are conducting operations without arms as they are not entitled to use arms. Our employees are risking their lives while working. And that’s why some times they cannot conduct drives against drug traders. We will be able to arrest drug traders if our teams use arms during operation,” he said.

He also said they will provide small arms to assistant sub-inspectors and inspectors. Big arms like Chinese rifles would be provided to sepoys during operation.

Ahmed, also a senior bureaucrat, said they will provide uniforms or combat dresses from the level of sepoys to the level of divisional directors of the agency.

DNC director (operations) Syed Towfique Uddin Ahmed told this correspondent that they want to strengthen the department like other operational forces for narcotics control. “We do not have the required manpower in the DNC and that’s why we cannot conduct operations as per our plans. We have to set up laboratories in all districts as use of drugs has increased,” he said.

Sources said there are only 1,271 personnel against about 50,00,000 drug addicts across the country. It mean, one employee of the DNC is working against 4,00,000 drug addicts.

According to the forces, the DNC is going to recruit 897 personnel after creating 897 posts in different categories soon for strengthening its activities.

The narcotics department is strengthening its activities by setting up new offices in 41 districts, two regional offices and two intelligence divisions.

The sources said smuggling, production, marketing and users have increased rapidly, but the government has not increased the manpower in the department for reasons not known.

The DNC was established in January 1990 under the home affairs ministry and is connected with the National Narcotics Control Board. The agency is responsible for issuing licences for the import, export, sales, transport of drugs. It also carries out raids against illegal narcotics.

Narcotics control dept to get arms, combat dress

The government is going to provide arms, ammunition and combat dress for employees of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) to strengthen it as a full-fledged law enforcement agency, with a view to fighting the menace of drugs. At the same time, the government is going to provide intelligence equipment like Mobile Tracker and Drug Remote Detector for the anti-drug watchdog so that the force can easily detect and pick up drug outlets and peddlers, sources in the home ministry and the DNC said. For providing arms, ammunition, combat dress and intelligence equipment, the DNC authorities are amending the existing Narcotics Control Act, which is now under scrutiny by the Security Service Division of the home ministry, the sources added. The government is going to strengthen the DNC at a time when various drugs, such as the madness tablet, yaba, are entering the country from neighbouring countries, especially Myanmar and India, through different border points. DNC director general (DG) Mohammod Jamal Uddin Ahmed told The Independent that they want to strengthen operational activities of the anti-drug watchdog in line with anti-drug control bodies abroad. Drug traders and peddlers are more powerful, and they always use modern arms and ammunition. But our personnel are conducting operations without arms as they are not entitled to use arms. Our employees are risking their lives while working. And thats why some times they cannot conduct drives against drug traders. We will be able to arrest drug traders if our teams use arms during operation, he said. He also said they will provide small arms to assistant sub-inspectors and inspectors. Big arms like Chinese rifles would be provided to sepoys during operation. Ahmed, also a senior bureaucrat, said they will provide uniforms or combat dresses from the level of sepoys to the level of divisional directors of the agency. DNC director (operations) Syed Towfique Uddin Ahmed told this correspondent that they want to strengthen the department like other operational forces for narcotics control. We do not have the required manpower in the DNC and thats why we cannot conduct operations as per our plans. We have to set up laboratories in all districts as use of drugs has increased, he said. Sources said there are only 1,271 personnel against about 50,00,000 drug addicts across the country. It mean, one employee of the DNC is working against 4,00,000 drug addicts. According to the forces, the DNC is going to recruit 897 personnel after creating 897 posts in different categories soon for strengthening its activities. The narcotics department is strengthening its activities by setting up new offices in 41 districts, two regional offices and two intelligence divisions. The sources said smuggling, production, marketing and users have increased rapidly, but the government has not increased the manpower in the department for reasons not known. The DNC was established in January 1990 under the home affairs ministry and is connected with the National Narcotics Control Board. The agency is responsible for issuing licences for the import, export, sales, transport of drugs. It also carries out raids against illegal narcotics.