Overview

• The assembly approved an amendment on July 9 to classify production, manufacture, possession, sale and transport of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as organised crime under MCOCA.
• The revised law imposes stricter bail restrictions to prevent commercial traffickers from regaining freedom under the NDPS Act.
• Police will be empowered to book drug dealers under MCOCA’s stringent provisions, enabling longer pre-charge detention and heavier sentencing.
• Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam cited more than 10,000 prosecutions and ₹11,000 crore worth of drug seizures over five years to underscore the amendment’s urgency.
• The bill has been sent to the Legislative Council for final approval as part of a broader push to dismantle syndicate-style drug networks.