New drone policy with some restrictions soon, says Shah

• Posted on July 18, 2023
• Daily Current Affairs

New drone policy with some restrictions soon, says Shah

Context 

Amit Shah, the Union home minister, announced on Monday that a new drone policy, enforcing several regulations and requiring mandatory registration for all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), will be unveiled soon.

What do we know about Golden Cresent and How is it affecting India?

• Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent:
  1. The Golden Crescent is the name given to the South Asian region that includes Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and is famous for producing opium.
  2. Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle, which includes Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, is well-known for producing opium.
  3. Compared to the Golden Triangle, the Golden Crescent has produced opium for a longer time.
• Golden Crescent opium production:
  1.  Since the 1950s, opium has been produced in the Golden Crescent.
  2. The Golden Crescent’s top opium producer historically has been Afghanistan.
• Impact of Operation Enduring Freedom: 
  1. In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
  2. This military campaign had a tremendous impact on opium production in Afghanistan, which decreased by about 90%.
  3. Resurgent opium production after 2002: After 2002, opium production in Afghanistan began to rise once more.
  4. Opium production in the nation has increased as a result of political unrest and other factors.
• Geographically, India is tucked between the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent. As a result, huge quantities of opium and heroin go through the interior of India. This has had a terrible impact, to put it mildly, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Indian state of Punjab.

How do Drones come into play here?

• Criminals haven’t given up yet even though smuggling in drugs, firearms, and other illegal goods hasn’t been successful in India. For criminals, using a drone to smuggle drugs makes a lot of sense because no one is in immediate danger.
• Many of the drones used in Pakistan and India, such as the quadcopter and hexacopter models, are made in China. China is a significant producer of drone models for a variety of uses and is a global leader in the drone industry.
• Drones that infiltrate Indian territory from Pakistan have been shot down with success by the Border Security Forces (BSF) of India. Intercepting these drones is a top priority for border security since they are seen as a possible security danger.
• Securing drugs and weapons: The BSF has been successful in seizing substantial amounts of drugs and weapons transported by these drones in addition to shooting down drones. The smugglers involved in these activities have suffered financial losses as a result, significantly impeding their business.
• Older drones’ capabilities: It is mentioned that older drones built in Pakistan are rumoured to be able to carry more weight. This implies that smugglers may have used older models to move greater or larger loads of illegal items.

How is  Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) helping in controlling Drug trafficking in India?

• Formation: The NCORD mechanism was formed in 2016 to improve communication between Indian intelligence and drug law enforcement agencies.
• Four-Tier System: The NCORD mechanism employs a four-tier system, which consists of the following:
• Apex Level NCORD Committee: The top level of the mechanism, in charge of setting and directing general policy.
  • NCORD group at the Executive Level: This group is responsible for sharing and coordinating operational actions.
  • NCORD Committees at the State Level: Each state has a committee to manage coordination within the state. Each committee is led by the corresponding Chief Secretary.
  • NCORD Committees at the District Level: Local coordination activities are handled at the district level by committees presided over by District Magistrates.
• Strengthening:2019 saw the continued strengthening of the NCORD system, demonstrating the Union Home Ministry’s understanding of the system’s significance in addressing drug-related concerns.
• Nodal Agency: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is the NCORD mechanism’s nodal agency, in charge of enabling the coordination and execution of decisions taken during NCORD meetings.
• Dedicated Team: Shri Amit Shah gave the order for all states to form Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) under the command of ADG/IG-level police personnel. These task teams serve as the State NCORD’s secretariat, ensuring that decisions are implemented on schedule.
• Narcotics Training Module: Shri Amit Shah emphasized the necessity of a narcotics training module at the national level. Training for police officers, CAPF members, prosecutors, and civil department employees is the goal of this module. The NCB and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) are entrusted with working together to develop this training program.