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. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk