India is strengthening its fight against drug trafficking as authorities target criminal networks operating through online platforms, cross-border routes and cryptocurrency. The government is now focusing not only on drug seizures but also on breaking the financial and digital systems that help these networks grow.
The push comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029) during the 10th Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting. The new strategy follows a “Detect, Disrupt and Destroy” approach, using technology, intelligence and community policing to identify and eliminate drug cartels across the country.
Government data shows that India’s anti-drug campaign has become much stronger over the last decade. Between 2014 and 2026, agencies seized more than 1.18 crore kilograms of synthetic drugs worth around ₹1.84 lakh crore. During the same period, over 8.75 lakh drug-related cases were registered and nearly 11 lakh people were arrested.
To further strengthen the fight, the government is planning changes to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. It has also asked states to set up dedicated NDPS courts, strengthen Anti-Narcotics Task Forces and involve the Enforcement Directorate in investigating the money trail behind large drug syndicates.
As part of the Online Drugs Disposal Fortnight Campaign, authorities are also destroying over 2.09 lakh kilograms of seized drugs worth around ₹6,000 crore.
Online Platforms and New Drug Threats Worry Agencies
The NCB’s Annual Report 2025 highlights two major concerns. The first is the growing spread of nitazenes, a dangerous group of synthetic opioids that are said to be up to 500 times stronger than heroin. The second is the increasing use of the Myanmar-India border for drug smuggling.
Officials say the porous borders in Mizoram, Manipur, Assam and Tripura have become major routes for heroin and methamphetamine entering India. These routes are also believed to be linked to arms smuggling and the funding of insurgent groups in the region.
Punjab continues to remain one of India’s biggest drug hotspots. While heroin remains a major problem, authorities have also noticed a rise in the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs such as codeine-based cough syrups, Buprenorphine, Tramadol and Alprazolam. The state also recorded the highest heroin seizures in the country and most of the drone-based cross-border drug smuggling cases during 2025.
Digital platforms have created a new challenge for law enforcement agencies. Telegram recently came under the spotlight after the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Investigators claimed that fraudsters used Telegram’s message editing feature to make old posts appear as if they contained leaked question papers before the exam. The government temporarily blocked the app, leading to a legal battle and a wider debate over digital privacy and censorship.
Apart from exam fraud, the NCB has also identified Telegram as one of the main platforms used to advertise drugs and communicate with buyers. Public channels, disappearing messages and cryptocurrency payments have made it easier for traffickers to operate online.
Big Drug Busts, Global Cooperation and Crypto Monitoring
Law enforcement agencies have recently carried out several major operations against drug syndicates operating in India and abroad.
One of the biggest cases involved the seizure of drugs worth around ₹13,000 crore in Delhi. Police recovered over 1,200 kilograms of cocaine and hydroponic marijuana that were allegedly smuggled from South America and Southeast Asia through Dubai and Goa before being processed in a pharmaceutical factory in Gujarat. Several people have been arrested, while key suspects were brought back to India from the UAE.
In another major operation called Operation Med-Max, the NCB busted an illegal prescription drug network running from a call centre in Karnataka. The group allegedly supplied medicines to customers in the US, Europe and Australia using cryptocurrency payments. The investigation also led to arrests and raids in other countries with the help of international agencies.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence also seized a record 270 kilograms of Mephedrone hidden under chicken feed in Rajasthan. The operation later uncovered multiple illegal drug manufacturing units in different parts of the country.
The NCB also arrested a Myanmar-based drug kingpin accused of supplying heroin and methamphetamine across Northeast India while running a large hawala network. Investigators have frozen several bank accounts linked to the racket.
India has also increased cooperation with other countries to bring back wanted criminals. Several accused have been deported from the UAE, while agencies are using Interpol notices to trace fugitives and their financial assets across borders.
The government is also tightening rules for cryptocurrency transactions. From April 2026, Virtual Digital Asset platforms and crypto exchanges must report user transactions to the Income Tax Department. The move is expected to improve transparency and help agencies track money used in illegal drug trade.
At the same time, Telegram has changed its global privacy policy after legal action against its CEO in France. The company now shares user details with law enforcement agencies in valid criminal investigations. As a result, investigators believe many cybercriminals are slowly moving to other encrypted messaging apps.
As drug trafficking becomes more organised and technology-driven, India is shifting its strategy beyond traditional policing. The focus is now on using technology, financial tracking, stronger laws and international cooperation to stop drug networks before they can expand further.