New Delhi: The Election Commission of India today claimed that the election-time seizure would cross Rs.9,000 crores. It informed that enhanced vigil against inducements including drugs and psychotropic substances has resulted in “staggering” seizures worth Rs 8889 crores by the agencies since March 1, 2024.
“Drug seizures have been maximum,” the ECI said, adding that the contribution of seizure of drugs is Rs. 3958 Crores which is 45% of total seizures. It further disclosed that the Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad, Narcotics Control Bureau and Indian Coast Guard, in joint operations, have made three high-value seizures of drugs in just three days amounting to Rs 892 crores.
Other states apart from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi have also shown seizures of drugs. On April 17, 2024, Noida Police busted a drug factory in Greater Noida wherein 26.7 kg of MDMA drug (commonly known as ecstasy, and molly or mandy), valued at Rs. 150 Crore were seized and two persons of foreign origin were arrested.
“The seizures in other cohorts have equally been impressive and surpasses the entire seizures of 2019 Parliamentary Elections by a big margin. Meticulous and exhaustive planning stands at its base,” the ECI said.
The seizure of drugs, liquor, precious metals, freebies, and cash influences elections in varying degrees, some flowing directly as inducement while others through reduced levels of circulation of money. This, thereby, adversely impacts the linkages of proceeds of illegal activities to political campaigns. The Commission said it has laid special emphasis on the seizure of Narcotics and Psychotropic substances. Analysis of data found that states/Union Territories which used to be transit zones are increasingly becoming consumption territories.
Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar said he has directed the nodal agencies during one of the review visits that “precise intel-based collaborative efforts by agencies against drugs and narcotics is need of the hour to root out the role of dirty money of drug trade in elections and more important and holistically, to save future of youth and thereby, country”.
With the increasing intensity of campaigning in the last three phases, the Commission is keeping a close tab on attempts at influencing voters through inducements and has directed the CEOs and enforcement agencies to step up the vigil.
– global bihari bureau
