Delhi Customs destroys 328 kg of narcotic drugs, 80 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 294 crore

New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI): Delhi Customs Preventive Zone destroyed 328 kg of narcotic drugs, along with 80.2 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes, with a combined worth of Rs 294 crore, in New Delhi under Special Campaign 3.0, said the Ministry of Finance press release on Wednesday.
As a part of Special Campaign 3.0 of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Delhi's Customs Preventive Zone destroyed 328 kg of narcotic substances, valued at Rs 284 crore, and 80.2 lakh sticks of foreign-origin cigarettes, worth Rs 9.85 crore, said the official statement.
According to the official release, the operation was carried out in a safe and non-hazardous manner in the presence of the Secretary of Revenue Department in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India; CBIC Chairman; and Member (Compliance Management) CBIC in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The Revenue Secretary, CBIC Chairman, CBIC Member (Compliance Management), and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance also conducted an on-site inspection of the illegal goods before commencing their destruction, according to the official release.
The press release further mentioned that Revenue Secretary Shri Sanjay Malhotra, in his address on the occasion, stated that the destruction of illegal goods is a continuous process being undertaken by the Customs department outside of the Special Campaign as well; however, the Special Campaign has given a boost to this process.
Drawing parallels between the destruction of illegal goods and the burning of Ravana during the festival of Dussehra, Shri Malhotra said that today's actions are symbolic of the victory of good over evil and further avowed the resolve of the department to continue its fight against the drug menace to save younger generations.
The narcotic substances being destroyed today consist of 29 kg of heroin, 6 kg of cocaine, 7 kg of amphetamine, and 286 kg of Khat leaves, also known as 'Catha Edulis', said the official release.
The majority of the heroin was seized by the department in 2005-06 and 2009-10; some quantity was seized in 2022-23; and the remaining narcotic drugs were seized in 2022-23, added the official release.
The bulk of the foreign-origin cigarettes being destroyed today were seized in 2018 and some quantity was seized in 2023. These cigarettes were seized by the department as they were smuggled into India in violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003.
According to the press note, the package of these smuggled foreign-origin cigarettes did not bear the mandated health and pictorial warning. The NDPS substances and foreign-origin cigarettes have been incinerated as per the guidelines under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (M&TM) Rules, 2016 at M/s Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Delhi.
This facility is duly authorised by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for the destruction of narcotic substances, cigarettes and other biodegradable waste, including biomedical waste, according to the official statement.
The press release further mentioned that CBIC scaled up activities under Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 3.0 in the third week of October 2023, which saw the destruction of 365 kg of narcotic substances worth Rs. 1,000 crore and 1.35 crore of foreign-origin cigarette sticks worth Rs 13 crore.
The department has also weeded out 8,308 physical files and disposed off 9,304 kg scrap, thus freeing up additional office space of 46,565 sq. ft. The present destruction of narcotic drugs and cigarettes by the Customs Preventive Zone, Delhi, is an effort to clean up space and spread the message of cleanliness.
As a responsible member of the international community, India has been very active in global efforts to tackle the drug menace. India is a party to the United Nations Conventions on Drugs. To give effect to such treaties, the Indian Parliament enacted the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The Indian Customs, in addition to its primary function of revenue collection, also actively takes preventive action against the smuggling of contraband and narcotic drugs. Customs officers collect intelligence information from various sources to interdict any incident of smuggling of narcotic drugs through air, sea, or land, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. (ANI)