India, US discuss joint action against drug trade

A joint Indo-US Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) meeting was held on Friday to deliberate on drug law enforcement and increase in seizures of heroin from Afghanistan. The two sides also signed an agreement on strengthening cooperation and sharing intelligence, said officials.

The Indian delegation was headed by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) director general SN Pradhan.

An Amended Letter of Agreement in the field of cooperation for drug related matters between India and the US was signed during the event. The agreement was signed on behalf of India by revenue secretary Tarun Bajaj and on behalf of the US by Patricia Lacina, Charge d'Affaires.

The two sides decided to establish a CNWG Executive Group and three steering groups on multilateral policy and regulatory coordination, law enforcement cooperation and drug demand/harm reduction.

"Both sides reviewed the drug trafficking scenario and enforcement efforts in respective countries. They discussed coordination and regulatory matters relating to drug law enforcement, drug trafficking crimes emanating from the region, cooperation in the fields of combating drug abuse, capacity building and mechanisms to share best practices," said the NCB.