Chandigarh, March 29 (NationPress) High-ranking officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) representing Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh convened in Chandigarh to oversee significant cases, enhance financial investigation efforts, and improve collaboration among agencies, as stated by an official on Sunday.

This gathering was part of the NCB’s routine quarterly meetings aimed at advancing data-driven enforcement strategies and fostering multi-agency investigations, according to the official’s announcement.

In a post shared on X, the NCB remarked, “The meeting assessed ongoing vital investigations, highlighted the need for improved inter-agency cooperation, exchanged effective legal practices, and explored increased collaboration, including assistance with Blue and Red Corner Notices against narcotics offenders.”

The NCB further noted, “The quarterly State-Level Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) assembly for Punjab, Haryana, and UT Chandigarh was organized by the NCB in Chandigarh alongside Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) to bolster anti-narcotics intelligence sharing and enforcement measures.”

“Led by the DDG of NCB (Northwest Region), the session utilized a hybrid format, welcoming participation from the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Drug Controllers of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, alongside representatives from ED and other agencies,” shared an official via social media.

On the previous day, analogous regional meetings took place in Guwahati and Kolkata.

According to an official statement, “The Quarterly State-Level JCC meeting for Assam was held by the NCB at the Police Headquarters in Guwahati to enhance coordination in narcotics intelligence and enforcement.”

“Chaired by the DDG of NCB (Northeast Region), this meeting included participants from NIA, ED, Customs, DRI, Income Tax, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and Drug Controller, as well as ANTF Assam, SIB, and SPs from sensitive districts,” it stated.

The meeting prioritized the referral of terror and hawala-linked drug cases to NIA/ED, improving financial investigations, initiating PIT NDPS actions against repeat offenders, utilizing NIDAAN/NATGRID for data-driven enforcement, and fostering collaborative investigations of complex NDPS cases, according to the NCB statement.

“A comprehensive overview of the drug situation in Assam was presented, which included contraband recoveries along the NF Railway network. The meeting emphasized the importance of developing and sharing an extensive database of drug cartels and traffickers with all DLEAs,” it added.

The Kolkata meeting, chaired by the NCB DDG (Eastern Region), also saw active participation from Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, including NIA, Customs, DRI, Income Tax, ANTF, SIB, and the State Excise Department.

The focal points of this meeting included enhancing inter-agency cooperation and real-time intelligence sharing ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, disrupting drug syndicates and their financial infrastructures, invoking PIT NDPS, and effectively employing NIDAAN and NATGRID for thorough investigations. Additionally, the meeting underscored the importance of joint interrogations and broader outreach for the MANAS helpline-1933, according to the statement.