The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in collaboration with the West Bengal Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), concluded a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme in Kolkata from 28 September to 2 October 2026, aimed at reinforcing the operational and legal expertise of narcotics investigating officers across the state. The programme targeted 54 Inspector-rank officers drawn from the West Bengal ANTF, West Bengal Police, and Kolkata Police.

Scope and Structure of the Programme

The ToT format was deliberately chosen so that trained officers can subsequently disseminate specialised knowledge within their respective departments, creating a multiplier effect across enforcement units. The curriculum covered a broad spectrum of narcotics investigation disciplines, including search and seizure procedures, sampling and documentation, and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act.

Officers also received instruction in digital evidence handling, the analysis of Call Detail Records (CDR) and Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR), and financial investigation techniques — areas that have become increasingly critical as drug networks adopt technology-driven operations.

Emerging Threat Areas Addressed

The training programme addressed several complex and evolving challenges in narcotics enforcement. These included the diversion of precursor chemicals, investigations into darknet-linked drug cases, the proliferation of synthetic drugs, and the detection and handling of clandestine laboratories. Additional modules covered illicit cultivation, trial monitoring, and the disposal of case property — procedural areas where lapses have historically undermined prosecutions.

This is significant given the increasing volume of NDPS cases in West Bengal, where law enforcement agencies have faced growing pressure from both cross-border trafficking routes and domestic synthetic drug markets.

Assessment and Valedictory Session

The five-day programme concluded with a mock test to evaluate participants' grasp of the subjects covered. The Director General of Police, West Bengal, felicitated top scorers and delivered the valedictory address at the concluding session, underscoring the institutional importance placed on the initiative.

The NCB noted that the programme was designed not merely as a training exercise, but as a capacity-building measure to support the systematic dissemination of specialised narcotics enforcement knowledge across police and enforcement departments in the state.

Broader Context

The NCB has been ramping up regional training collaborations as part of a wider national effort to standardise NDPS investigation protocols and improve conviction rates in narcotics cases. West Bengal, given its proximity to trafficking corridors linking Myanmar and Bangladesh, has been identified as a priority zone for enforcement capability upgrades. The Kolkata ToT programme represents one of the more structured inter-agency training efforts undertaken in the eastern region in recent years.