New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday stressed the need for a joint mechanism of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to bring back foreign criminals and fugitives involved in drug trafficking.

Shah's direction came as he addressed the inaugural session of the second National Conference of the Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) of states and Union Territories in New Delhi.

Speaking at the event, the Home Minister highlighted the importance of deporting and extraditing fugitives and said that "the time has come to bring those operating drug trades from abroad under the ambit of Indian law."

"There is a need for a joint mechanism involving Narcotics Control Bureau ...