Book courier firms under NDPS Act: HC

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 17

Making it clear that drug trafficking cannot be permitted to operate like pizza home delivery business, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered filing of cases under the NDPS Act against the management and staff of courier companies handling drug consignments. The Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu directed courier service providers to use drug-narcotics detection kits at the place of booking and point of delivery. The ruling comes amid reports of sellers providing home delivery on internet-based orders.

The Bench asserted that the modus operandi adopted by the kingpin involved in drug business was to send the drugs through courier. “We make it clear that the managing director and directors of courier companies, owners of firms, servants and agents of the companies involved in courier business will also be liable to be dealt with under the NDPS Act,” the Bench added.

The Bench also asked Punjab to come out with a toll-free number to enable law-abiding citizens to inform the police about the presence of smugglers, peddlers and couriers without disclosing their identity. For the purpose, the Bench set two-week deadline.