Disposal of around 14000 kilogram of Narcotics was initiated by the Preventive Commissionerate of the Mumbai Customs Zone III by way of incineration at a waste disposal facility at Taloja on Wednesday. The drugs included 13860 kilograms of liquorice roots soaked in Heroine and 86.5 kilograms of hydroponic weed/ganja which were seized by the Mumbai Zonal Unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials in separate cases.
"The seized drugs are destroyed by way of incineration as per the Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, at Common Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage & Disposal Facility, Taloja. After the drugs are seized, they are kept in the government maalkhaanas or warehouses. Disposal process is defined in the NDPS Act and in the police escort, the drugs are taken to the facility where it has to be destroyed. After securing permission from the MPCB, the drugs are burnt in the incinerator and the destruction process does not cause any pollution," said an official.
The official added, "Government of India has issued directives that speedy disposal of the seized drugs needs to be done so that instances of pilferage, theft and loss are avoided."
Last year, the Mumbai Customs Zone-1 department had incinerated a total of 244.905 kilograms of contraband valued at approximately Rs 1515 crores. In July last year, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired the Regional Conference on ‘Drugs Smuggling and National Security’ in New Delhi.
During the Conference, under the leadership of the Union Home Minister, drugs worth Rs 2,416 crore, was destroyed in various parts of the country by NCB in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) of all states. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government has adopted a ’Zero Tolerance’ policy against narcotics to create a drugs-free India.
