Ahmedabad, Nov 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed Gujarat authorities to target entire drug trafficking networks and their kingpins rather than confining action to small-time peddlers, stressing the need for financial investigations to identify and seize their illicit assets.
Shah issued the directions while reviewing Gujarat’s law and order and internal security situation at a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Home Secretary and senior officials of the Centre and state attended the meeting.
The Home Minister stressed that investigations into drug trafficking must focus on dismantling the networks behind the trade and identifying those financing and controlling them. He called for prioritising financial probes to ensure that proceeds of crime and illicit assets are seized.
The meeting also reviewed border and coastal security, implementation of the new criminal laws, cybercrime, terrorism, illegal migration and disaster management.
Given Gujarat’s nearly 2,340-km-long coastline and its international border with Pakistan, Shah emphasised strengthening surveillance and improving coordination among the Border Security Force, State Police, Coast Guard and central agencies.
He also directed the state to enhance the capacity of the S4C and the 1930 helpline to tackle cybercrime, strengthen counter-terrorism agencies and expedite the identification and deportation of illegal foreign nationals in accordance with the law.
Shah appreciated Gujarat’s performance in implementing the new criminal laws, noting that 92 per cent of chargesheets were filed within 60 days and 86 per cent within 90 days. He, however, directed the state to launch a special drive to clear more than 25,000 pending forensic cases.
The Home Minister also called for expediting disaster management and fire safety measures, the Ahmedabad Urban Flood Management Project, and the survey and disposal of enemy properties.
He directed Central and state agencies to work in close coordination and regularly review progress against prescribed targets, reiterating the commitment to building a secure India through a safe, developed and drug-free Gujarat.
