Mumbai: Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday criticised the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), saying an impression is being created as if Maharashtra has become the hub of narcotics.

“An impression is being created as if there is a wave of drug trafficking in Maharashtra, as if drugs from all over the world are produced in Maharashtra, and only a special team can disrupt the racket. But that is not true,” said Thackeray, speaking virtually at the inauguration of the first wildlife DNA testing lab in Nagpur and three fast-track DNA testing units under the Nirbhaya scheme to test human DNA samples in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur forensic labs.

Thackeray said he is proud of Maharashtra and Mumbai police for their efforts at keeping the drug menace in check. “A few days ago, Mumbai police caught heroin worth Rs 25 crore, but because there was no heroine involved in it, no one spoke about it. No one knows the names of those policemen. We should felicitate them,” Thackeray said.

He said the Maharashtra police is a strong, competent force, and strict action is taken against anyone who violates the law, without any leniency shown. “Attempts are being made to tarnish this image of the Maharashtra police, and we have to stop these attempts,” said Thackeray. The NCB has arrested several people, including actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan, in a drug bust case.

Meanwhile, state home minister Dilip Walse Patil said the state government is likely to table the final draft of the Shakti Act which prescribes stringent punishment for crimes against women and children in the upcoming winter session of the legislature in December.

Thackeray said that while the state wants to give stringent punishment for crimes against women and children, cases fall through many times for want of evidence, and the DNA testing units will help the state with robust evidence so that strict punishments can be awarded.

He said the wildlife DNA testing lab in Nagpur will help in dealing with cases of animal poaching. “We want the state police to be equipped with the latest technology to be one step ahead of the criminal,” he said.