Conviction rate in drug trafficking cases in Tripura not up to mark: CM Manik Saha

“A total of 428 NDPS cases were disposed of in the state, among which only in 30 cases the accused persons were convicted. The rate of conviction is not up to the desired level. Therefore, it is the collective responsibility of all the stakeholders to strive against the menace of drug trafficking and eradicate it, or else, we shall fail to stop the menace,” the CM said.

He added that the judiciary also has a role in curbing the menace of drug trafficking. “I urge the judiciary to take a holistic approach and strict view in bail matters keeping in mind the stringent provisions of the NDPS Act,” Saha said.

He further said that drug trafficking posed a threat to the security and safety of the country as it has become one of the top avenues of income for terrorists and anti-national elements. They use the black money earned from drug trafficking to procure weapons for terror activities, CM Saha added.

“In 2018, after the change of guard in our state, we declared zero tolerance to drug trafficking with a view to make the state drug-free. Our government is also working in this direction. Thousands of NDPS cases were registered and hundreds of accused persons were arrested and the investigation was done against them,” he said.

The chief minister further said a total of 1,509 cases were lodged under the NDPS Act in the state from 2020 till June 2023 and a charge sheet was filed in 1,143 cases. In total, 2,131 persons were arrested under the NDPS Act in the last three years. During the same period, 1620.21 quintals of cannabis, 8.2088 lakh bottles of cough syrup and phensedyl, over 23.78 lakh yaba tablets, and 27.613 kilograms of heroin were seized. The police also registered four cases of human trafficking from 2020 till June 2023.

In his speech, Supreme Court Judge Aniruddha Bose stated that law enforcement agencies should be more active in preventing border crimes including human trafficking, and drug smuggling, among others.

Supreme Court Judge Sanjay Karol, Chief Justice of Tripura High Court Aparesh Kumar Singh, and Judge Arindam Lodh also addressed the seminar. Tripura Chief Secretary J K Sinha and Advocate General Siddhartha Shankar De participated in the seminar.