Postal dept moves to check drug trafficking

The postal authorities have now started collecting identity proof of those booking international parcels, in light of criminals taking the postal route to traffic drug overseas.

The Department of Post has also started presenting international mails before Customs authorities for checking in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi before handing over parcels and other mail to airlines. Though the number of international parcels with drugs has registered a minuscule increase, the authorities have decided to come out with a standard procedure to detect such illegal activity.

While the number of such cases in 2012 was 92, it rose to 134 in 2013 and 137 last year. Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary, Minister of State for Home, recently said in Parliament that these figures were “miniscule” and “do not indicate any increasing trend”.

A meeting of top officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Department of Posts was held in February this year, during which a host of measures were decided upon to clamp down on drug trafficking via this route.

However, the officials are not leaving any stones unturned to crack down on such rackets, and have now started enforcing the new procedure.

Officials said the Postal Department has now made it mandatory to collect identity proof of the consignor for booking of international parcels.

There is also more coordination and sharing of intelligence regarding shipment of drugs with various law enforcement agencies.