Dhaka, Delhi agree to curb drug trafficking
Bangladesh and India have expressed their concerns over the increasing trend of smuggling of synthetic and “party” drugs -- largely used by youngsters -- across the open border.
To this end, both the countries have decided to share actionable intelligence and information regarding these drugs which are produced cheaply in laboratories and available easily under popular names like “Speed” and “Ecstasy”.
"We are worried over the increase in the volume and usage of new synthetic drugs across the borders that we share. We need to protect the future generations from this menace," Director General of Bangladesh's Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) Mohammad Iqbal told reporters here on Thursday on the closing day of the two-day annual talks with India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Iqbal headed the Bangladesh delegation at the third DG-level conference.
The smuggling of synthetic drugs, also known as Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), has seen a considerable increase as the security agencies seized 85,498 ampoules of the contraband this year as compared to 75,857 ampoules last year.
At the conference, both the agencies signed a joint declaration emphasising additional measures to combat the drugs, drug smugglers and gangs involved in these operations.
During the joint media interaction, NCB chief Ajay Chadha said Phensedyl, a pharma syrup widely used as drug, was a problem and challenge for Indian security and the enforcement agencies.
He said the Indian government was trying to curb Phensedyl smuggling from the Indian side to Bangladesh. Chadha also said a number of vulnerable smuggling points along the border were identified at the meet for increased vigil by the government agencies.
The DGs also decided that the border guarding forces of both the countries -- Indian BSF and Bangladesh's BGB -- will hold regular meets to address issues related to psychotropic drugs and contrabands.
"Both the sides also expressed concern over growing menace of synthetic drugs or pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals. These are susceptible to misuse and are the fastest growing drugs of abuse today," an official statement said.
It was also agreed that "the best practices in curbing drug trafficking and demand reduction will be shared bilaterally”.
The meeting decided that an NCB delegation would travel to Dhaka in June next year for the annual meeting for the bilateral exchange.
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