Agra, Nov 22 (IANS): Drug trafficking poses a challenge to the stability and health of nations, Narcotics Commissioner of India Jagjit Pavadia said Tuesday.
"The world of crime, including drugs, is borderless and drug traffickers enjoy a degree of flexibility in carrying on their illicit trade despite governments putting in place the necessary legislative, law enforcement and regulatory controls," Pavadia told IANS here.
Pavadia's comments came as the four-day conclave of the heads of national drug law enforcement agencies (HONLEA) of Asia and Pacific regions began Tuesday, with 100 delegates from 28 countries participating.
This is the second HONLEA meeting hosted by India after the 1983 New Delhi meet.
Pavadia said: "This meeting will assist the heads of national drug law enforcement agencies in the region in their efforts to combat illicit drug production and trafficking more effectively and to improve coordination of their action at the sub-regional and regional levels."
"Drug trafficking organisations have an organised supply chain management system which poses a serious challenge to the institutional mechanism of legitimate trade and the stability, health and safety of nations."
In his keynote address, Finance and Revenue Secretary R.S. Gujral said: "In a globalised world, crime too is getting globalised."
He said criminals could move around more easily and run transnational operations.
"They often direct crime from offshore bases. Using modern communication tools, criminals can freely exchange information, coordinate operations and even share best crime practices."
Gujral said terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and cyber crimes were all global in scale and latest electronic gadgetry was being applied to more sinister ends.
It was therefore necessary therefore that drug law enforcement authorities also become smarter and better equipped.
"Our enforcement agencies personnel should learn, update themselves on latest technologies and deploy enhanced skills in their investigative work to stay ahead of criminals."
Countries should more actively cooperate and share vital inputs, increase vigilance on international fugitives and conduct joint enforcement actions.
"Only by working together can we effectively tackle transnational drug crime and terrorism," Gujral said.