On the eve of the ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’, the Department of Excise and Prohibition of Nagaland, which is responsible for supply reduction of drugs, has stated that a strict round-the-clock vigil was being kept to check illegal trafficking of drugs in the State with all its available resources.
A press release issued by the Commissioner of Excise and Prohibition, Tarep Imchen, stated that illegal dealing in drugs in any form, sale, possession, transaction, transportation, export, import inside India or from outside was prohibited and punishable under NDPS Act, 1985, with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 years imprisonment and with fine of Rs one to two lakh or with both.
It stated that allowing premises, warehouse, godown, vehicles or use of any kind of conveyance would be liable for confiscation to the state under NDPS Act with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 years imprisonment and with fine from Rs one lakh to two lakh or with both.
The department also stated that concealing of narcotic drugs in any form of goods, things or any items would be liable for confiscation to the state with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 years imprisonment and with fine of Rs one lakh to two lakh or with both.
Further, it informed that NDPS Act, 1985 prescribes stringent punishment to the extent of ‘death penalty’ for repeated offences committed either in India or abroad.
Any property, assets, moveable or immoveable, bank accounts, bank balances, acquired or derived from drug money by either spouse, family members, associates, friends were liable for attachment to the state and ‘freeze’ of bank accounts/bank balances under NDPS Act, it stated.
In this regard, the Commissioner of Excise and Prohibition has appealed to the people of the state, various organizations, NGOs working in the related field to put in a concerted effort to eradicate the dreaded drug menace and affirm not to harbour any drug traffickers/peddlers in any form, directly or indirectly. The commissioner also urged people to immediately report any incident of commission under the NDPS taking place or likely to take place in the neighbourhood to the Excise Department.