Central Bureau of Narcotics Seizes 66.80 Million Psychotropic Tablets and Arrests One in Operation Vajra 2.0 Interstate Crackdown
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) seized 66.80 lakh psychotropic tablets (including Alprazolam, Tramadol, Nitrazepam, and Clonazepam) under 'Operation Vajra 2.0' along the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh corridor.
- The operation was executed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, targeting illegal diversion, tampering of manufacturing details, and interstate trafficking networks.
- This enforcement action aligns with the government's 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' (NMBA) to combat synthetic drug abuse and dismantle illicit pharmaceutical supply chains.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) is an affiliated office of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, responsible for regulating the licit manufacture of opium and preventing the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs under the NDPS Act, 1985.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze the growing threat of pharmaceutical drug diversion and synthetic drug trafficking in India, highlighting the role of inter-state coordination, technology, and strict enforcement under the NDPS Act in safeguarding public health and national security.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to 'Operation Vajra 2.0', which was recently in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is an enforcement initiative conducted by the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) to curb the illegal diversion and trafficking of psychotropic substances. 2. The seizures and arrests under this operation are executed under the statutory provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. 3. The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) is an enforcement agency functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Operation Vajra 2.0 was executed by the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) to seize illegal psychotropic substances (such as Alprazolam, Tramadol, and Nitrazepam) under the NDPS Act, 1985. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, unlike the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) which falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.