Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2003
Source: Times of India, The (India)
Copyright: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2003
Contact:  http://www.timesofindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/453
Author: Anjali Singh Jaiswal

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

ANIL AGARWAL, SSP, Special Task Force, On STF's joint effort with the
Narcotics department.

Times of India: What was the role of the STF in helping the Narcotics
Department crack down on the drug mafia operating here?

STF is a broad based organisation that identifies and cracks down on mafia,
organised crime and gangs that are operating in the state. The STF's role in
the recent crack down on the drug mafia in UP, was to provide information to
the Narcotics department through our intelligence services about the crime
being organised in India. Owing to our technological backup, we can trace roots
of crimes that take place in India and from there spread to neighbouring
countries.

Times of India: When you say 'organised' in India, does it mean that drug
trafficking originates here? Do any of these gangs have roots in UP ?

Yes, of course. Though the Narcotics department will be able to give a clearer
picture, we have definite information that apart from Jhalavad in Rajasthan and
Mansoor in Madhya Pradesh where drug trafficking is very high, areas such as
Amla in Barielly and Barabanki are zones from where huge quantities of drugs
originate and find their way to international markets.

Times of India: The joint effort between STF and the Narcotics Department
resulted in the seizure of a substantial amount of drugs. Should related
departments work jointly in more cases to solve crimes?

Such joint efforts create the right synergies to help combat organised crime
and ultimately benefit society. The STF's role in this particular case was to
provide the narcotics department a resource backup.

We provided them with the technology and electronic surveillance assistance
required in the case. STF also provided assistance in countering the hi-tech
equipments used by the drug mafia.

The Narcotics department, on the other hand pooled in their extensive knowledge
and ground level information collected through field investigation. Together
these elements were helpful in cracking down on the gangs involved.

Times of India: But when it comes to central and state agencies collaborating,
the state agency is usually not taken seriously. Does that hamper working?

The STF has never encountered such a problem so far. Our credibility in
criminal investigation is well established. The centre has trust in the way we
work so we have never had to take a back seat. In the narcotics seizure case,
the Narcotics Department itself mentioned our role and how it helped solve the
case.
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