DIMAPUR — In commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Nagaland State Excise under the aegis of UNODC theme ‘People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention,’ has highlighted the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) 1985 Act for public awareness.
Some of the offences punishable under NDPS Act 1985, which has been amended thrice in 1998, 2001 and 2014, include:
- Illegal dealing in drugs, in any form – sale, possession, transaction, transportation, export, import inside India or from outside is prohibited and punishable under NDPS Act 1985, with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 yrs imprisonment and with fine from INR 1 lakh to INR 2 lakh or with both.
- Allowing premises, warehouse, godown, vehicles, or use of any kind of conveyance will be liable for confiscation to the State under NDPS Act with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 yrs imprisonment and with fine from INR 1 lakh to INR 2 lakh or with both.
- Concealing of narcotic drugs in any form by goods, things or any items will be liable for confiscation to the State with punishment ranging from 10 to 20 yrs imprisonment and with fine from INR 1 lakh to INR 2 lakh or with both.
- NDPS Act’85 also prescribed stringent punishment to the extent of “Death Penalty” for repeated offences committed either in India or Abroad.
- Any property, assets, movable or immovable bank accounts/bank balances acquired or derived from drug money by either spouse, family members/associates, friends are liable for attachment to the State and bank accounts/bank balances ‘Freezed’ under NDPS Act.
Commissioner of Excise & Prohibition, H Atokhe Aye, in a press release, appealed to the people of the state and all the organisations, NGO’s working in the related field to put concerted efforts to eradicate the drug menace. The commissioner also urged people not to harbour any drug traffickers or peddlers in any form, but to report “any incident of commission of offence under NDPS Act taking place or likely to place in your locality or neighbourhood, immediately to the Excise department.”
