PANAJI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted the Centre's “zero tolerance” policy against narcotics, stressing stronger coordination between State police and central agencies to dismantle drug networks operating in Goa's tourism sector.
Addressing a press conference after a high-level review meeting with State leaders in Panaji, attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Shah said the fight against drug trafficking remained a top priority for the government. The meeting reviewed a range of issues concerning Goa, including law and order, internal security, administrative matters and the preparedness of security agencies. Shah said special emphasis was being placed on strengthening cooperation between Goa police and central investigative agencies to eliminate the drug menace from the State's tourism sector. He added that agencies were being equipped with advanced technology to identify and prosecute inter-State and international drug traffickers. Highlighting the Centre's anti-drug campaign, Shah said drug seizures had increased significantly under the BJP-led government. He compared the figures with those during the previous Congress-led regime. According to Shah, between 2004 and 2014, authorities seized 26 lakh kilograms of drugs worth Rs 40,000 crore. In contrast, from 2014 to 2026, agencies confiscated 1.19 crore kilograms of narcotics valued at Rs 1.89 lakh crore.
Shah also spoke about the implementation of the country's three new criminal laws: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. The Home Minister also highlighted the Centre's efforts to bring fugitive offenders to justice. He said 264 absconding criminals were extradited and produced before courts between 2019 and July 2026. Shah credited improved coordination between central agencies and State police forces for the success and said, the Bharat-Pol system had accelerated extradition procedures and strengthened action against economic offenders and fugitives.
As a result, assets worth Rs 17,874 crore linked to absconding accused in serious and economic crimes were seized or attached between 2019 and 2026, he said.
On national security, Shah said the abrogation of Article 370 had led to a sharp decline in separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He also added that left-wing extremism was in its final phase, while peace agreements in the Northeast had helped more than 10,000 youths return to the mainstream.
Shah assured that the Centre remained committed to strengthening coastal security, promoting Goa's development and ensuring the safety of tourists visiting the State.
Sawant, Goa police win praise as conviction rate jumps to 53%
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the State police for raising the conviction rate from 22% to 53.2% following the implementation of the three new criminal laws, calling the achievement a result of more effective enforcement of the new legal framework.
Shah said the next target should be to raise Goa’s conviction rate to 70%, noting that the current figures also include cases registered under the erstwhile IPC and CrPC. He praised the State government and police machinery for their efforts, and said the new legal framework had accelerated the delivery of justice and contributed significantly to improving conviction rates in the State.
