Dimapur, June 25 (MExN): The Nagaland State Excise department reiterates the penalties that would be imposed on anyone found selling, possessing, transacting and/or transporting illegal drugs and their associated products. As part of public relations exercise on International Days against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26, the Excise department issued a circular listing out the range of penalties including imprisonment and freezing of accounts and even the sentence of death penalty for violation.
While the stated actions and their impact remain mostly superficial and inconsequential in Nagaland, the department nonetheless listed out the penalties in a press release received here today from Commissioner of Excise Maongwati Aier.
The Excise department stated that “illegal dealing inn drugs” in any form, selling, possessing, transacting, transporting, exporting or importing from Indian or outside is prohibited and punishable under the NDPS Act 1985. The punishment range from 10 to 20 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh or with both, the department’s circular stated. Likewise, allowing property and premises, warehouses, vehicles or use of any kind of conveyance would attract their confiscation by the State under the Act with the same punishment as the first offence.
Further, concealing narcotics or illegal drugs in any form by “goods, things or any items” will attract their confiscation by the State with the same range and magnitude of punishment as the earlier two offenses mentioned. The department said that the NDPS Act also “prescribed” punishment to the extent of Death penalty for repeated offence committed either in India or abroad.
“Any property, assets, moveable or immovable bank accounts/bank balances acquired or derived from drug money by spouse, family members/associates, and friends are liable for attachment to the State and ‘freezed’ bank accounts/bank balances under NDPS Act,” the department said.
The department urges the people to resolve not to harbor drug traffickers or peddlers either directly or indirectly. They are to be reported for offence to the department, the circular stated.
