what rules govern disposal of seized narcotics?

• Recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) destroyed 30,000 kg of seized drugs.

About the Rules

• Section 52-A of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 allows probe agencies to destroy seized substances after collecting required samples. Officials concerned must make a detailed inventory of the substance to be destroyed.
• A five-member committee comprising the area SSP, director/superintendent or the representative of the area NCB, a local magistrate and two others linked to law enforcement and legal fraternity is constituted.
• The substance is then destroyed in an incinerator or burnt completely leaving behind not any trace of the substance.
• The agency first obtains permission from a local court to dispose of the seized narcotic substances.
• These substances are then taken to the designated place of destruction under a strict vigil.
• The entire process is videographed, photographed.

Authorised Agency

• Every law enforcement agency competent to seize drugs is authorised to destroy them after taking prior permission of the area magistrate.
• These include state police forces, the CBI and the NCB among others.

Need to destroy seized drugs

• The hazardous nature of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, their vulnerability to theft, substitution, constraints of proper storage space are among the reasons that make agencies destroy them.