Department of Narcotics Control

Department of Narcotics Control (Bengali: মাদকদ্রব্য নিয়ন্ত্রণ অধিদপ্তর, romanized: Mādakadrabya niẏantraṇa adhidaptara) is the main government agency responsible for narcotics control in Bangladesh.

History
The Department of Narcotics Control was established on 2 January 1990 under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is related to National Narcotics Control Board. The agency is responsible for issuing licenses for the import, exports, sales, transport, etc. for drugs in Bangladesh. It also carries out raids against illegal narcotics. The department has its own intelligence branch.

Prior to its establishment, drugs including but not limited to codeine-laced cough syrup, some alcoholic health tonics, tablets, and syrups were banned from being marketed and produced in 1982, then in 1984 opium (which has a long history in both Bangladesh and its neighbor India) was banned, in 1987 the cultivation of cannabis was stopped and finally in 1989 all cannabis shops were closed.

On September 9, 1991 the department was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mustakim Billah Farooki is the Director-General of the Department of Narcotics Control.