Kerala Home Minister urges tougher drug law and national meeting to curb drug trade

Call for Reform

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has demanded a tougher Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convene a meeting of all state home ministers for a drug‑free India. In a Facebook post he said he had sent a letter to Shah requesting the meeting.

Issue Details

Chennithala said recent drug seizures under Kerala’s ‘Operation Toofan’ anti‑narcotics drive have uncovered networks that stretch beyond the state and into foreign countries, making national‑level action essential. He warned that the drug mafia exploits loopholes such as repackaging large narcotic quantities into smaller units, introducing new synthetic drugs, delays in forensic testing, and hiding money in benami accounts. He added that accused individuals often secure bail by using legal gaps and then return to trafficking, highlighting the weakness of the current law.

Next Steps

The minister urged Shah to call a special meeting of all home ministers to discuss a complete revision of the NDPS Act and strict follow‑up measures. He said Kerala is ready to host the meeting and that Shah had praised the progress of Operation Toofan when they met at Amritapuri. Chennithala called for dismantling the financial base of the drug mafia and immediate confiscation of their assets.

Context

The NDPS Act is India’s main law against drug trafficking; tightening it aims to close loopholes that allow repeat offenders to escape harsh punishment. Coordination between centre and states is seen as key to breaking cross‑border drug networks.