Sameer Wankhede says money spent on every gram of narcotics reaches terror gangs.
NAVI MUMBAI, May 17 (The CIONNECT): Delivering a hard-hitting warning against rising narcotics abuse among the youth, former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Sameer Wankhede declared that drug consumption was not merely a crime but an “anti-national activity” comparable to terrorism.
Addressing a drug awareness programme organised by Sajjan Shakti Samarth Samaj in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Wankhede said on Saturday that every rupee spent on narcotics ultimately strengthens terror syndicates and criminal networks operating across borders.
“Drug abuse is not a personal choice alone. The money spent on every gram of narcotics reaches terror gangs and their masterminds. In that sense, drug abuse is anti-national like terrorism,” said Wankhede, who handled hundreds of drug cases, including several high-profile investigations.
Wankhede, currently serving as Additional Revenue Commissioner in Chennai, cautioned that India’s narcotics laws prescribe severe punishments ranging from imprisonment to the death penalty, depending on the quantity and category of drugs involved. While law enforcement agencies such as the police and the NCB were relentlessly working to curb the menace, society too must shoulder responsibility, he said.
“Citizens cannot remain silent spectators. Civil society must stay alert to drug peddling and substance abuse in neighbourhoods, schools and colleges,” he said.
Expressing concern over the growing attraction among youngsters towards vaping, hookah parlours and eventually narcotic substances, Wankhede warned that addiction often pushes youth into drug trafficking.
“Many young people first consume drugs and later enter peddling after exhausting their pocket money. This is an extremely dangerous cycle that must be broken,” he said.
He also underlined the devastating long-term consequences of drug-related offences, saying those caught consuming or selling narcotics risk losing far more than their freedom.
“A drug case can destroy careers. Offenders may lose passports, overseas education opportunities and the right to travel abroad. Their future gets permanently damaged,” Wankhede warned.
Social activist B N Kumar said the fight against narcotics must go beyond arrests and focus on exposing the larger ecosystem behind the trade.
“The media should not treat drug abuse as a routine crime story. Investigations must go deeper to expose the supply chain, the gangs involved and the social impact of the menace,” said Kumar, convener of the Human Chain Online platform.
He stressed that parents, teachers and peer groups all have a critical role in preventing teenagers from falling into addiction.
Invoking the saying, “The family that dines together stays together,” he urged parents to spend more time communicating with their children through regular family interactions.
“Increasing domestic stress and parental conflicts often push children towards the wrong company. No parent would want their child to go astray and become a social burden,” he said.
Kumar also appealed directly to students, warning that drug abuse destroys not only physical and mental health but also brings shame and suffering to entire families.
The event was organised in association with NGO Srujan Sanvedna Foundation. Activist Madhu Shankar, brand ambassador of Sajjan Shakti, said the initiative marked the beginning of a larger nationwide movement for a “Drug-Free India.”
“This is just the beginning of a mass awareness movement. We will approach schools, colleges and other institutions to organise skits, competitions and outreach programmes focused on drug awareness and the role of youth in positive nation-building,” she said.
