Andaman & Nicobar Islands are under the spotlight as rising narcotics activity signals potential organised trafficking networks, prompting urgent calls for comprehensive enforcement and socio-economic interventions. MP Bishnu Pada Ray has formally written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Director General of Police, Andaman & Nicobar Police, seeking detailed information on narcotics seizures over the last five years and strategic measures to prevent systemic infiltration.
The letter, highlighting the recent destruction of over 6,000 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at approximately ₹6,000 crore, stresses that these seizures are not isolated incidents. Ray underscores that repeated interceptions at Sri Vijaya Puram airport and other points indicate persistent attempts by organised networks to exploit the Islands’ strategic location. The MP’s communication raises questions about screening effectiveness, institutional oversight, and coordination at key entry points, warning that even limited infiltration could have severe consequences for the youth and overall community welfare.
Ray’s correspondence requests a comprehensive year-wise statement of narcotics seizures, including substance type, quantity, estimated value, seizure location, and suspected sources. Details on registered cases, arrests, current investigation status, prosecution outcomes, and any pending trials have also been sought to provide a clear assessment of law enforcement efficiency. Further, the MP asks for intelligence-based evaluations on whether these incidents indicate developing organised crime, including interstate or international linkages, and the preventive strategies in place.
Beyond enforcement, the MP emphasizes systemic governance deficits that could exacerbate vulnerabilities. He recommends independent audits of airport, seaport, and inter-island screening systems, mandatory personnel rotation, integrity checks, and establishment of a dedicated multi-agency narcotics control grid combining Police, Coast Guard, Customs, Intelligence, and port authorities. Strengthening maritime surveillance, tighter monitoring of inter-island cargo, and deployment of advanced screening tools and canine units are also highlighted as immediate measures.
Ray’s letter stresses that socio-economic factors contribute to vulnerability. Limited employment opportunities and youth exposure may facilitate local consumption and recruitment into trafficking networks. To counter this, he proposes structured youth engagement programs, school and college awareness campaigns, accessible de-addiction and counselling facilities, and policy interventions to ensure local employment rights through legal frameworks and skill development in tourism, fisheries, and allied sectors. Rational land management policies to unlock entrepreneurial potential are also recommended.
The MP warns that reactive or fragmented approaches are insufficient, urging a coordinated, accountable, and sustained response that addresses enforcement, governance, and socio-economic vulnerabilities simultaneously. The communication underscores that Andaman & Nicobar Islands cannot allow emerging narcotics corridors to establish roots, emphasizing proactive measures to prevent organized networks from taking hold in the strategically sensitive region.
