NCB stands for Narcotics Control Bureau, an agency to enforce drug laws in India. It deals with drug-related crimes. It is the first bureau of its kind worldwide that deals with drug-related cases across the country.
Narcotics Control Bureau is the sole organisation established in 1986 by the Indian government to regulate drug-related crimes and illegal activities across the country. It has an annual budget of more than INR 2,600 crore and a staff of over 18,000 people. The sole of NCB is to prevent drug smuggling in India while controlling the use of legal drugs. Therefore, NCB works with other government agencies like Custom Departments and the Intelligence Bureau.
Narcotics Control Bureau is also a member of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the South Asians Narcotics Control Commission (SANACC). SANACC is a regional institution to control drug-related activities with the association of seven countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Afghanistan.
Narcotics Control Bureau was established to fully implement the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. Thus, on 17 March 1986, the Indian government set up NCB to regulate drug-related activities in India.
Officers of NCB are mostly either from a direct recruitment process or drawn from the Indian Revenue Service and Indian Police Service, and Paramilitary forces. The law under which NCB was established aims to fulfil the duties that come under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988).
The national headquarters of the Narcotics Control Bureau is situated in Delhi, the National Capital Region of India. Other units of the Narcotics Control Bureau are located in Mumbai, Indore, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Guwahati, Chandigarh, and Jammu.
Most of the time, the director of the Narcotics Control Bureau is an officer from the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) or Indian Police Services (IPS). Besides, major officials are appointed from IRS and IPS offices. Narcotics Control Bureau is affiliated with the Home Ministry, which administrates the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985.
The most significant responsibility of the Narcotics Control Bureau is to prevent the illegal traffic of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Other important functions are (1) the Collection and analysis of drug trafficking-related information, (2) taking necessary actions related to narcotics, (3) working with the state and central law enforcement agencies to restrict drug trafficking, (4) providing training to officials, and (5) implementation of stringent laws to prevent drug trafficking.
Narcotics Control Bureau works with the Customs and Central Excise/GST, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), State Police Department, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) and other national and state agencies for the implementation and regulation of narcotics in India. They also cooperate with the United Nations and related agencies to control Narcotics abuse.
Narcotics Control Bureau has been provided with some powers to regulate narcotic drug consumption across the country. They can seize the production and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. They can enter, search, and arrest offenders even without a warrant.
They can arrest anyone who violated any law under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. They can take necessary measures for the destruction and prevention of narcotic drugs and the rehabilitation, treatment, and social life of drug addicts.
Narcotics Control Bureau is the government agency controlling narcotics abuse and related activities.
The narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 is a central law to deal with drug trafficking and abuse.
The Ministry of Home Affairs regulates the activities of the Narcotics Control Bureau, headed by the rank of Director-General officer.
The Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are some coordinating agencies with the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The Narcotics Control Bureau can arrest anyone violating the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985.