Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Narcotics Control Bureau

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's primary tasked with preventing and combating the of and psychotropic substances, as well as curbing trafficking. Established on 17 March 1986 under Section 4(3) of the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the NCB functions as the nodal coordinating entity for implementing the NDPS Act across central ministries, state governments, and international obligations related to control. Headquartered in and operating through zonal and sub-zonal offices nationwide, it is headed by a Director General drawn from the or (Customs and Indirect Taxes). The agency's core mandate includes gathering, coordination of enforcement actions against syndicates, implementation of treaties such as the UN Conventions on Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, and facilitation of precursors to prevent diversion. It collaborates with entities like the , Customs, and state anti-narcotics task forces to dismantle trafficking networks, often targeting cross-border smuggling routes from , , and other source regions. Notable operational characteristics involve high-stakes seizures of , , synthetic drugs, and , contributing to India's broader narcotics interdiction efforts amid rising domestic consumption and narco-terrorism linkages. While the NCB has recorded substantial enforcement successes, including multi-tonne drug hauls and international arrests through mechanisms like the Narcotics Control Bureau Coordination Centre, its activities have intersected with judicial scrutiny in cases involving handling and jurisdictional overlaps under the stringent NDPS , which presumes guilt for quantities and imposes minimum sentences. These elements underscore the bureau's role in a punitive, supply-suppression-oriented , distinct from demand-reduction programs managed by other ministries.

Establishment and Legal Basis

Pre-Formation Context and NDPS Act

Prior to the establishment of a centralized narcotics enforcement agency in , drug control efforts were fragmented and governed by colonial-era legislation, including the Opium Act of 1857 and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930, which primarily focused on licensing production and regulating imports rather than combating trafficking. These laws proved inadequate against the surge in drug smuggling during the 1970s and 1980s, driven by proximity to the (, , ) and (, , ) regions, leading to increased and trafficking into . International pressure, particularly from the , highlighted India's role as a transit point and producer of opium-derived substances, prompting calls for stricter domestic controls to align with global anti-drug efforts. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, was enacted on November 14, 1985, to consolidate and amend existing laws, prohibiting the production, manufacture, cultivation, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, and consumption of drugs and psychotropic substances except for medical or scientific purposes. This legislation fulfilled India's obligations under conventions, including the 1961 (as amended by the 1972 Protocol), the 1971 , and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Key provisions imposed stringent penalties, such as minimum imprisonment terms of 10 years for commercial quantities of drugs like or , with no provisions for or bail in many cases, reflecting a punitive approach to deter organized trafficking networks. Section 4(3) of the NDPS Act empowered the central government to constitute a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as the nodal agency for coordinating enforcement, intelligence sharing, and implementation across states and enforcement arms like customs and police, addressing the pre-existing lack of a unified federal mechanism. This provision arose from recognition that decentralized state-level policing was insufficient against cross-border syndicates, with the Act also establishing special courts for expedited trials to enhance conviction rates. The NDPS framework shifted policy from revenue-oriented opium regulation to prohibition-focused interdiction, setting the stage for NCB's operationalization in 1986.

Creation and Early Objectives

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was formally constituted on 17 March 1986 by the under Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which empowered the to establish a dedicated nodal agency for narcotics control. This creation addressed the need for a centralized mechanism to enforce the NDPS Act's stringent provisions against production, possession, sale, and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, following the Act's enactment amid rising international pressure to align with UN conventions on drug control. The Bureau's early objectives centered on coordinating anti-drug enforcement across states and central agencies, as state police forces lacked uniform capacity for interstate trafficking cases. It was tasked with monitoring compliance with NDPS provisions, gathering intelligence on illicit trafficking networks, and facilitating implementation of India's obligations under treaties like the 1961 and the 1971 . Initial priorities included preventing the diversion of licit production—India being a major global supplier for medical purposes—into illegal channels, while curbing routes exploited by syndicates. From , the NCB aimed to serve as the apex body for policy advice on and rehabilitation, though enforcement against supply-side trafficking dominated early efforts due to the Act's focus on deterrence through severe penalties. This involved liaising with , border security, and international partners to dismantle cross-border operations, reflecting a causal emphasis on disrupting supply chains as a primary lever against escalating domestic abuse rates documented in the mid-1980s.

Organizational Structure

Headquarters, Zonal Units, and Field Operations

The headquarters of the Narcotics Control Bureau is situated at West Block No. 1, Wing No. 5, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066, where central coordination, policy formulation, and administrative functions are managed under the Director General. NCB's operational framework extends through multiple zonal units and sub-zonal units distributed across India, each assigned specific territorial jurisdictions to facilitate localized enforcement and intelligence gathering. As of recent organizational charts, these include units in key regions such as Delhi (covering Bihar, Uttar Pradesh excluding National Capital Region areas, and Uttarakhand), Mumbai (Western region states like Maharashtra and Gujarat), Kolkata (Eastern states including West Bengal and Odisha), Chennai (Southern states), Chandigarh (Northern states like Punjab and Haryana), and others in Amritsar (North Western), Jammu, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, and Jodhpur. Zonal Directors oversee these units, which previously numbered 13 zones and 13 sub-zones before expansions for enhanced coverage. Field operations are executed primarily by empowered officers from zonal and sub-zonal units, who conduct searches, seizures, arrests, and investigations under Sections 41-43 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, often in coordination with , , and other central agencies. These operations focus on inter-state and international trafficking routes, with zonal units maintaining dedicated teams for raids, , and collection, as evidenced by their role in monitoring seizure data and trafficker networks. provides overarching support and approves high-level actions, ensuring alignment with national priorities while zonal units handle on-ground execution in their jurisdictions.

Leadership, Staffing, and Resources

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is led by a , a position held by a senior officer of the () appointed by the . As of September 2024, Anurag Garg, an officer of the 1993 batch from the cadre, assumed the role of with a tenure extending until May 23, 2026. The leadership structure features an Additional Director General and multiple Deputy Directors General responsible for key functions, including operations and enforcement coordination (OEC), special wings and awareness, personnel and administration (P&A), and regional oversight in zones such as (Northern Region), (North Western Region), and (South Western Region). NCB's staffing comprises a mix of deputed officers, personnel, and other central service cadres, with recruitment drives for specialized roles like officers and sub-inspectors. The agency's sanctioned strength was expanded to 1,496 personnel in August 2024 through the addition of 425 new posts across , , and categories, addressing prior shortages that limited operational capacity. Earlier assessments indicated operational staffing hovered around 1,107 in 2021, with historical vacancies contributing to challenges in gathering and field deployments. Resources allocated to NCB fall under the ' police budget, supporting infrastructure, forensic capabilities, and inter-agency coordination, though specific annual funding figures for the bureau are integrated into broader narcotics control schemes providing grants to states for anti-trafficking measures. Recent enhancements include expanded Narco-Canine squads for detection operations and capacity-building initiatives to bolster demand reduction efforts. These allocations prioritize filling gaps amid rising drug seizure values, which exceeded ₹25,330 in 2024 across agencies including NCB.

Core Functions and Responsibilities

Enforcement and Prosecution

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) enforces provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, focusing on inter-state and international drug trafficking cases that require centralized coordination. NCB officers, designated under Section 53 of the NDPS Act as empowered officials, exercise police-like powers including for cognizable offenses, of , and summoning witnesses for . These actions typically follow intelligence leads, involving joint operations with , authorities, and other agencies to dismantle syndicates, with emphasis on securing evidence chains to withstand judicial scrutiny. Enforcement procedures mandate compliance with procedural safeguards, such as obtaining warrants under Section 41 for premises searches or allowing suspects under Section 50 to opt for searches before a gazetted officer or to prevent arbitrary actions. Seized narcotics undergo sampling and forensic analysis per NDPS Rules to establish quantity and purity, critical for determining commercial-scale offenses that attract minimum 10-year rigorous . NCB's field operations prioritize high-value targets, including precursor chemical diversions and labs, often resulting in asset forfeitures under Section 68A to disrupt financial incentives for trafficking. In prosecution, NCB files charge sheets in NDPS Courts designated under 36 of the Act, where trials proceed summarily for smaller quantities or regularly for major cases, with reverse burden of proof on the accused for possession offenses. The appoints dedicated Prosecutors and Prosecutors on deputation or contract to handle litigation, provide investigative legal guidance, and pursue convictions, which have historically emphasized deterrence through non-able warrants and limited provisions under 37. These prosecutors ensure adherence to 52A for pre-trial disposal of seized drugs, minimizing storage risks while preserving integrity. Success hinges on robust documentation, as procedural lapses like non-compliance with sampling protocols have led to acquittals in appellate courts.

Intelligence Coordination and Analysis

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) functions as the central nodal agency for coordination on narcotics-related matters in , collecting inputs from central ministries, , authorities, and other drug agencies (DLEAs). It disseminates processed to support coordinated enforcement actions, acting as the national contact point for both domestic investigations and international . Through its 30 zonal and sub-zonal units, NCB aggregates data on seizures, trafficking routes, and syndicates, enabling targeted operations against illicit networks. A core aspect of NCB's analysis involves scrutinizing seizure statistics to identify trends, evolving of traffickers, and vulnerabilities in supply chains, culminating in the preparation of annual National Drug Enforcement Statistics reports. This analytical framework supports predictive assessments of drug flows, including the use of for monitoring illicit and in remote areas. NCB maintains and updates a National Data Bank on drugs and psychotropic substances, incorporating empirical data from enforcement actions to inform policy and operational priorities. To enhance inter-agency synergy, NCB operates the Narco-Coordination (NCORD) portal, launched as part of a restructured four-tier mechanism in , which serves as an integrated platform for real-time intelligence sharing, data exchange, and coordination among DLEAs at central, , , and field levels. The portal facilitates access to enforcement-related information, including trafficking patterns and , thereby reducing silos and accelerating responses to emerging threats. Internationally, NCB coordinates intelligence with bodies such as the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), (INCB), , and foreign drug liaison officers, enabling cross-border tracking of syndicates and implementation of conventions like the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic. This includes real-time exchanges on and smuggling routes, bolstering India's frontier monitoring efforts. Intelligence officers within NCB, including junior and senior roles, specialize in lead development, surveillance, and covert operations to uncover hidden networks.

Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Demand Reduction

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) addresses drug demand reduction through coordination of awareness and preventive education initiatives, supplementing its primary enforcement mandate under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. These efforts target vulnerable populations, including youth, by promoting behavioral change and community involvement to prevent initial substance use and reduce overall consumption. NCB organizes nationwide awareness programs, such as painting contests, poster-making events, walkathons, and cyclothons, often aligned with international observances like the International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26. A key campaign, "Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs," encourages public pledges via platforms like to foster anti-drug commitments among citizens. In June 2025, NCB conducted the Nationwide Nasha Mukt Pakhwada, collaborating with universities and institutions to amplify outreach through seminars and events. To target educational institutions, NCB signed a memorandum of understanding with the (CBSE) on September 3, 2025, launching pilot programs for school-based prevention. These include workshops, counseling sessions for students, teachers, and parents, and training on recognizing drug risks, with nationwide expansion planned to integrate anti-narcotics modules into curricula. Similar collaborations extend to ; on September 26, 2025, NCB partnered with to display anti-drug messaging and promote the MANAS helpline (ncbmanas.gov.in) for anonymous reporting and counseling referrals. In rehabilitation and de-addiction, NCB's role emphasizes coordination rather than direct service provision, which is primarily handled under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). NCB facilitates linkages with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for referrals and supports the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched August 15, 2020, by integrating supply-side controls with demand-reduction activities like community outreach in 272 high-risk districts. The MANAS portal, managed by NCB, connects users to resources, including counseling and de-addiction centers, handling queries on psychotropic substance since its inception. These measures aim to build capacity for early intervention, though empirical data on long-term efficacy remains limited, with NAPDDR reporting over 10,000 master volunteers mobilized by 2025 for sustained awareness.

Major Operations and Investigations

Domestic Busts and Seizure Campaigns

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) spearheads domestic busts and seizure campaigns through intelligence-driven operations targeting clandestine drug laboratories, inter-state trafficking networks, and illicit cultivation sites within . These efforts, coordinated via its 30 zonal and sub-zonal units, focus on disrupting local production and distribution of drugs and psychotropic substances under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) , 1985. Operations typically involve raids on units, seizures from transportation consignments, and destruction of and cultivations, yielding measurable quantities of and arrests of key operatives. In the fiscal year 2023-24, NCB zonal units executed multiple high-yield domestic seizures, including 2,525.675 kg of by the Cochin unit on May 13, 2023, with one arrest, and 2,126.660 kg of by the unit on May 30, 2023, resulting in two arrests. Lab busts highlighted vulnerabilities in synthetic drug production: the operation in May 2023 dismantled two methamphetamine labs, seizing 77.1 kg of the substance and arresting 13 individuals, while the unit in October 2023 raided an facility, confiscating 199.3 kg. Earlier in the year, the unit seized 20.326 kg of on November 15, 2022 (reported in 2023), leading to 20 arrests, underscoring ongoing efforts against networks. Recent campaigns have intensified against diversion cartels and synthetic precursors. The Zonal Unit, in a four-month operation across four states concluded in May 2025, dismantled a drug diversion syndicate, seizing substances valued at ₹547 and making multiple arrests. In October 2025, the Zonal Unit busted an illegal manufacturing lab in , , recovering over 13 kg of psychotropic drugs. seizures have also featured prominently, such as the November 2024 confiscation of 82.53 kg in , valued at approximately ₹900 , from a domestic trafficking conduit. These actions align with a broader trend: NCB registered 116 major cases from 2020 to May 2025, resulting in 109,318 kg of drugs seized. Seizure values reflect escalating enforcement efficacy, with all-India drug agencies, including NCB, recording ₹25,330 in 2024—a 55% rise from ₹16,100 in 2023. Synthetic drugs have driven much of this surge, with amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) seizures reaching 8,406 kg in 2024, nearly fivefold higher than prior baselines, often linked to domestic labs and coastal routes. Destruction campaigns complement busts; a July 17, 2023, event incinerated a record 140,000 kg of narcotics worth ₹2,378 in one day. Additionally, NCB oversaw the eradication of 31,785 acres of illicit opium poppy and 22,507 acres of in 2023-24.

High-Profile Cases Involving Syndicates and Celebrities

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has pursued several high-profile investigations linking celebrities to drug syndicates, particularly within Bollywood circles, revealing procurement networks involving , , and other substances. In September 2020, amid the probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, NCB arrested actress on September 8 for allegedly procuring drugs like and facilitating supplies to Rajput as part of a broader syndicate. Her brother, Showik Chakraborty, was arrested on September 4 for similar involvement in drug deliveries via courier services tied to suppliers. The investigation expanded to summon over a dozen celebrities, including on September 25, 2020, for questioning on chats indicating requests for drugs such as marijuana and from alleged peddlers. NCB filings described Rhea as an "active member of a drug syndicate," with evidence from communications and witness statements pointing to a nexus of suppliers and users in the film industry. A separate 2018 case implicated actress in a transnational (Mandrax) worth approximately ₹2,000 from to and beyond. Kulkarni was named alongside her husband Vicky Patel and Kenyan trafficker Rashid Alavdin in NCB charges, based on confessions and video evidence of meetings discussing the operation's logistics. The exploited air cargo routes, with seizures including 5 tonnes of the drug precursor, highlighting NCB's focus on celebrity-facilitated international networks. In October 2021, NCB raided the Cordelia cruise ship off on , detaining 27 individuals, including , son of actor [Shah Rukh Khan](/page/Shah Rukh_Khan), for suspected involvement in a drug-fueled party linked to , , and distribution. Seizures totaled small quantities from multiple suspects, with investigations uncovering procurement ties to external suppliers, though was not charged after forensic reviews found no consumable drugs on him. This operation targeted alleged syndicate-backed events frequented by high-profile figures. Beyond celebrity cases, NCB dismantled major syndicates with indirect celebrity links, such as a February 2025 bust of an international network trafficking valued at ₹200 crore, involving multiple consignments hidden in consumer goods from . In July 2025, a global operating across four continents via platforms was busted, leading to eight arrests in and extraditions from the and , with seizures of synthetic drugs and . These efforts underscore NCB's emphasis on tracing syndicate supply chains that have historically supplied entertainment industry figures.

Achievements and Measurable Impact

Seizure and Arrest Statistics

From 2004 to 2014, the Narcotics Control Bureau registered 1,250 cases and effected 1,360 arrests related to drugs and psychotropic substances. In the subsequent decade from 2014 to 2024, these numbers increased substantially to 4,150 cases registered and 6,300 arrests, reflecting enhanced focus on targeting trafficking networks, including suppliers and repeat offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. Between 2020 and May 2025, the bureau registered 116 major cases, leading to the seizure of 109,318 kg of controlled substances across various drug types. These operations emphasized financial investigations to disrupt syndicates, often in coordination with state agencies, the , and the . In the 2023-24, NCB-led seizures totaled significant quantities of multiple substances, including 21,026.66 kg of , 2,589.675 kg of , 2,456.73 kg of pharmaceutical preparations, 86.25 kg of , 82.33 kg of , 78.06 kg of , 62.58 kg of , 25.78 kg of , and 10.32 kg of . These efforts resulted in 258 arrests during major operations, alongside 51 controlled delivery operations to trace upstream suppliers. Nationally coordinated destruction under NCB oversight included over 140,000 kg of in a single event on July 17, 2023, contributing to the disposal of approximately 1 million kg of narcotics valued at over ₹12,000 for the year. Seizures of , such as amphetamine-type stimulants, have shown a pronounced upward trend, with 8,406 kg seized in 2024—nearly five times the 1,704 kg recorded prior to 2019—driven by increased maritime and darknet-facilitated trafficking. Overall seizures rose sixfold from 2019 to 2024, underscoring shifts toward chemical precursors and international routes.

Contributions to Broader Security and Terrorism Prevention

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) contributes to broader by targeting the financial underpinnings of through the disruption of trafficking networks, which often serve as mechanisms for terrorist and insurgent groups. Proceeds from illicit narcotics, including heroin and synthetic drugs smuggled via maritime and land routes, have been documented to finance operations by groups such as and Naxalite insurgents, with estimates indicating that over 25% of certain terrorist expenditures in derive from trade revenues. By enforcing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, NCB seizes consignments that would otherwise bolster these activities, thereby reducing the operational capacity of narco-terror syndicates. In specific operations, NCB has collaborated with the and to intercept high-value shipments linked to cross-border , which links to terrorist . For instance, in February 2024, a joint operation off the coast resulted in the seizure of 3,132 kg of and other valued at approximately ₹1,000 , preventing funds from reaching potential networks operating from and neighboring regions. Such interdictions target routes like the India- maritime corridor, where drug hauls are frequently tied to overground worker support for , enhancing border security and preempting financing. NCB's intelligence coordination extends to uncovering terror-drug nexuses through enhanced investigations, as emphasized by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who noted reforms enabling probes to expose not only drug supplies but associated terrorism networks, achieving higher conviction rates in narco-terror cases. This includes sharing real-time data with agencies like the National Investigation Agency and international partners such as Interpol, fostering joint efforts to dismantle global supply chains that indirectly fund extremism. By prioritizing forensic analysis of synthetic narcotics and demand reduction in vulnerable border areas, NCB mitigates the societal destabilization that aids recruitment into terrorist outfits.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Political Misuse

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has faced accusations of political misuse, particularly during high-profile investigations under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led since 2014, with critics alleging selective targeting of individuals linked to opposition parties or celebrities perceived as unsupportive. These claims intensified following the agency's probes into Bollywood-linked drug networks, where opposition figures contended that operations served electoral or vendetta purposes rather than pure enforcement. A prominent instance arose in the 2020 drugs probe stemming from actor Rajput's death on June 14, 2020, which prompted NCB involvement after initial inquiries uncovered alleged drug procurement by his partner . The agency registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on August 26, 2020, leading to Chakraborty's arrest on September 8, 2020, alongside others in a network involving and other substances. Opposition parties, including and the (NCP), described the NCB's escalation as politically motivated to undermine the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) state government, then led by Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress allies, by amplifying media scrutiny on Bollywood's alleged and amid central-state tensions. NCB officials rejected these assertions, emphasizing evidence-based investigations independent of political affiliations. Similar allegations surfaced in the October 3, 2021, raid on the Cordelia cruise ship off , resulting in the arrest of , son of actor , and 17 others for suspected drug consumption and procurement at a party yielding small quantities of , , and . Opposition leaders, including NCP's , claimed the operation was tipped off by BJP workers and selectively enforced, noting that three individuals—including kin of a BJP leader—were released despite initial summons, while high-profile figures faced prolonged scrutiny. The NCB countered that actions followed intelligence and legal protocols, dismissing charges of bias and highlighting arrests across 18 persons without regard for religion or . Critics have also pointed to the NDPS Act's stringent provisions enabling potential overreach, with reports of internal NCB —such as 16 officials facing charges as of December 2021—fueling doubts about impartiality in politically charged cases. However, NCB operations have extended to figures across affiliations, including the March 9, 2024, arrest of former (DMK) leader Jaffer Sadiq in a ₹2,000 international syndicate linked to Nadu's and political funding probes. No judicial findings have substantiated systemic political misuse, though such allegations persist amid broader debates on autonomy.

Debates on Effectiveness and Overreach

Critics argue that the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) enforcement-centric approach under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, has yielded mixed results in curbing drug trafficking and use. While NCB reported seizing over 109,000 kilograms of drugs across 116 major cases from 2020 to May 2025, indicating enhanced capabilities, these figures may reflect improved detection rather than diminished supply, as trafficking adapts via new routes and synthetic drugs. The 2019 National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use estimated 14.6% of Indians aged 10-75 (about 160 million people) used substances, with opioids affecting 2.1% (roughly 23 million users), and no comprehensive follow-up survey has shown a decline, suggesting enforcement alone fails to reduce driven by , socioeconomic factors, and porous borders. The has highlighted investigative shortcomings, noting in 2025 that agencies like NCB often apprehend low-level operatives while "masterminds" evade capture, allowing syndicates to persist despite seizures. Coordination gaps persist, with NCB historically siloed from and , though the Narco-Coordination (NCORD) aims to address this; however, trafficking via markets remains under-policed due to technical limitations. Proponents counter that rising seizures—up 25% quarter-on-quarter since 2019—disrupt finances and deter importers, contributing to broader security by linking narcotics to funding, yet empirical trends in prevalence (rising from 0.1% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2019) underscore the need for integrated demand reduction. Debates on overreach center on the NDPS Act's stringent provisions, including reverse burden of proof and minimal thresholds, which critics contend disproportionately punish users and petty traffickers over kingpins, leading to without proportional crime reduction. The Act's failure to differentiate for personal use from trafficking has drawn judicial scrutiny, with the in cases like Frank Vitus v. Narcotics Control Bureau (2024) striking down conditions such as mandatory location tracking as violative of privacy rights under Article 21. Death penalties for repeat commercial quantities, criticized since 1985 amendments, are rarely applied to major syndicates but ensnare small offenders, exacerbating systemic biases in enforcement. While NCB defends rigorous measures as necessary against adaptive cartels, advocates argue for reforms, noting the Act's punitive focus yields high conviction rates (over 90% in some states) but low disruption of upstream supply chains.

International Engagement

Bilateral and Multilateral Partnerships

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinates India's bilateral engagements on narcotics control, with the country party to 27 bilateral agreements aimed at combating drug trafficking as of 2023. These pacts facilitate intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and extraditions, often involving direct collaboration between NCB and foreign enforcement agencies. A notable example is the (MoU) signed on June 14, 2023, between NCB and Nigeria's (NDLEA), focusing on preventing illicit trafficking through exchange of information on controlled substances and suspect identification. Key bilateral partnerships include the India-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG), established to address synthetic opioids and precursor chemicals, with NCB hosting the third meeting in New Delhi on July 7-8, 2022, and further sessions in 2023 involving joint operations such as the seizure of 2,525.675 kg of methamphetamine off Cochin on May 13, 2023, in coordination with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). NCB has also engaged in joint working groups on counter-terrorism with Canada (February 3, 2023), Egypt (February 16, 2023), and Iran (December 20, 2023), emphasizing cross-border interdiction. Capacity-building efforts extend to training programs for Bangladesh customs officers from January 9-13, 2023, at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN). On the multilateral front, NCB actively participates in frameworks under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), including workshops on systems (April 5, 2023) and cryptocurrencies (August 7-11, 2023), as well as sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), such as the 66th meeting in from March 13-17, 2023. Collaboration with the (INCB) includes cross-border twinning events, such as those in December 2023 with and customs officers to enhance awareness and intelligence exchange, and hosting the INCB Precursors Task Force meeting in from October 11-13, 2023, attended by representatives from 16 countries. NCB coordinates with for operational support, notably securing the first Interpol Silver Notice on September 4, 2025, against Dubai-based Indian drug trafficker Pawan Thakur in an 82-kg case. Additionally, NCB engages in (SCO) expert working groups on narcotics, with virtual meetings on January 18 and February 15, 2023. These efforts align with India's commitments to UN conventions, including the 1961 , the 1971 , and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic.

Role in Global Counter-Narcotics Efforts

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) functions as India's nodal agency for coordinating international counter-narcotics efforts, implementing obligations under key United Nations conventions including the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (as amended in 1972), the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. This role involves assisting foreign law enforcement authorities, sharing intelligence on transnational trafficking networks, and supporting joint operations to disrupt global supply chains of illicit substances such as cocaine, fentanyl precursors, and synthetic drugs. In bilateral partnerships, NCB has deepened collaboration with the through the annual India-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG), which it hosts periodically to address shared threats like pharmaceutical opioids, , and trafficking routes. The fifth CNWG meeting, held in on October 23-24, , focused on enhancing intelligence exchange, capacity building, and joint strategies against synthetic drugs, building on prior sessions such as the third meeting in July 2022. These engagements align with India's broader bilateral agreements on drug control with over 45 countries, emphasizing demand reduction and enforcement coordination. Multilaterally, NCB engages with to target fugitive traffickers and dismantle cross-border syndicates, exemplified by its first issuance of an Silver in September 2025 against Dubai-based Indian national Pawan Thakur, linked to an 82 kg seizure. NCB's exposure of the Ketamelon syndicate in July 2025 contributed to 's global operation against a $6.5 billion network spanning 18 countries, resulting in 386 arrests. Additionally, NCB collaborates with the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the (INCB) on trend analysis, capacity building, and technology-driven enforcement, including real-time data sharing and AI applications highlighted at the 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2025. NCB has also hosted Anti-Drug Working Group meetings, such as the fifth virtual session in June 2021, to foster regional intelligence on emerging threats. These efforts have enabled NCB to contribute to high-impact transnational busts, such as the July 2025 dismantling of a four-continent using encrypted communications and , underscoring its integration into global networks while prioritizing enforcement over demand-side measures in line with India's policy focus.

Ongoing Challenges

Persistent Trafficking Routes and Emerging Threats

Heroin and opium from the Golden Crescent region—primarily Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran—continue to enter India via established land routes across the India-Pakistan border, including infiltration points along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC), such as the Poonch-Chakkan da Bagh trade route exploited by Pakistan-based syndicates. Maritime trafficking persists through the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, with consignments intercepted at major ports like Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Kolkata, often concealed in commercial cargo or fishing vessels originating from West Asian hubs. These routes have sustained high seizure volumes, as evidenced by India's record drug hauls in 2021, underscoring the maritime corridor's role in facilitating bulk shipments of opiates and precursor chemicals. Synthetic narcotics, including and , have seen trafficking surge six-fold since 2019, often routed through porous northeastern borders from Myanmar's or via sea from , with emerging as a transshipment hub for destined for international meth labs. inflows, primarily from via West African intermediaries, increasingly target coastal entry points, complicating efforts. Emerging threats include drone-facilitated cross-border smuggling from , with incidents escalating from three in 2021 to 179 in 2024 along the and frontiers, enabling rapid, low-volume deliveries of and synthetics that evade traditional patrols. The proliferation of clandestine synthetic drug laboratories within , fueled by accessible precursors, poses risks of domestic production scaling up, while intensified opiate flows from —despite production curbs—threaten heightened consumption in South Asia's largest opiate market. These developments strain NCB resources, as railway and air routes also face growing misuse for concealment.

Resource and Policy Limitations

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) encounters substantial operational constraints due to inadequate personnel strength, which limits its ability to monitor and interdict narcotics trafficking across India's vast borders and internal networks. In October 2021, the proposed creating 3,000 additional posts within the NCB, framing drug trafficking as an internal security threat that demands expanded staffing to enhance , gathering, and actions. This initiative underscores persistent shortages, as the agency's current cadre relies heavily on deputation from other central and state forces, leading to gaps in specialized expertise for handling complex cases involving synthetic s and international syndicates. Budgetary allocations further exacerbate these challenges, with the NCB receiving ₹193.77 for the 2025-26, a figure deemed insufficient by parliamentary observers for scaling up forensic capabilities, regional offices, and technology-driven operations amid escalating trafficking volumes. In the 2023-24 expenditure profile, the bureau's revised outlay stood at just ₹5 against initial estimates, reflecting fiscal pressures that prioritize reactive seizures over proactive development, such as advanced laboratories and real-time intelligence platforms. These resource shortfalls contribute to overburdened field units and delayed case processing, as evidenced by reliance on external forensic support rather than in-house facilities. Policy frameworks impose additional limitations, including fragmented coordination with and agencies under the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) , which vests primary enforcement in multiple entities rather than granting the NCB autonomous raiding powers nationwide. Until the 2022 proposal to shift NDPS administration from the to the , inter-ministerial divisions hindered unified execution, with revenue-focused controls clashing against security-oriented enforcement needs. Moreover, outdated regulations fail to fully address emerging synthetic and trafficking, prompting recommendations for modernization to incorporate risk-based assessments and enhanced precursor chemical monitoring, though implementation lags due to bureaucratic inertia. These constraints collectively undermine the NCB's capacity to disrupt entrenched routes, as resource and gaps allow syndicates to exploit jurisdictional overlaps and regulatory blind spots.

References

  1. [1]
    Narcotics Control Bureau
    The NCB is India's premier agency against drug trafficking, formed in 1986, and is the apex coordinating and enforcement agency.Vacancies · Recruitment · Latest News · Press Release
  2. [2]
    India - 2014 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)
    The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's primary national drug control agency, established to prevent and combat the abuse of narcotic drugs and ...
  3. [3]
    Home Role and functions of the Narcotics Control Bureau
    Oct 30, 2017 · The Narcotics Control Bureau was created in March 1986 in terms of Section 4 (3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.Missing: mandate | Show results with:mandate<|separator|>
  4. [4]
    NCB and Narco- Terrorism - The Study IAS
    Sep 20, 2024 · The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, established the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on March 17, 1986, to: Coordinate ...
  5. [5]
    Overview, CBN - central bureau of narcotics
    India is a signatory to the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 & UN Convention against the Illicit Traffic in ...
  6. [6]
    [PDF] ANNUAL REPORT 2023 | Narcotics Control Bureau
    Oct 12, 2023 · achievements into the Annual Report for the Narcotics Control Bureau. This report serves not only as a testament to our dedication and hard ...
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Supreme Court of India Hira Singh vs Uoi on 22 April, 2020 Author
    Apr 22, 2020 · Micheal Raj v. Intelligence Officer,. Narcotic Control Bureau (2008) 5 SCC 161 taking the view that when any narcotic drug or psychotropic ...
  8. [8]
    National Drug Laws, Policies, and Programs in India - PubMed Central
    India's drug laws include the NDPS Act 1985 and Policy 2012, with programs like DDAP, and the MoSJE as nodal ministry for demand reduction.
  9. [9]
    [PDF] NATIONAL POLICY ON NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC ...
    The Narcotics Control Bureau, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), coordinates actions by various functionaries (Central and State) under the NDPS Act. 7.
  10. [10]
    What makes the Narcotics Control Bureau tough as nails - The Federal
    Nov 1, 2021 · This changed in 1985, when, under pressure from the United States to enact stricter anti-drug laws, India introduced the Narcotics Drugs and ...
  11. [11]
    An Overview on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act ...
    Aug 4, 2025 · Central to this paper is India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985: its genesis, its critique, and the amendments ...
  12. [12]
    Home List Of NCB Contact Points - Ministry of Home Affairs
    Oct 30, 2017 · Narcotics Control Bureau, Mumbai Zonal Unit, 3rd Floor, Exchange Building, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai – 400 001. Phone No : 022 2262 ...
  13. [13]
    https://narcoticsindia.nic.in/organisation/Chart.pdf
  14. [14]
    Appointments: Anurag Garg takes over NCB, Brijendra Pratap Singh ...
    Sep 19, 2024 · Anurag Garg (IPS: 1993: HP) has been named as the Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) with tenure lasting until May 23, 2026.
  15. [15]
    [PDF] Director General
    Dy. Director General. North Western Region. Amritsar. Dy. Director General. Northern Region. Delhi. Director General. Additional. Director General.
  16. [16]
    NCB Boosts Workforce with Creation of 425 New Posts
    Aug 7, 2024 · (iii) The sanctioned strength of NCB has also been increased to 1496 by creation of 425 new posts in different categories. (iv) Narco-Canine ...
  17. [17]
    NCB: The narcotics agency and where it goes wrong
    Nov 2, 2021 · By 2010, NCB had 900 staff. Today, it operates with the strength of 1,107 personnel all over India. There is a proposal pending to recruit 3,600 ...
  18. [18]
    [PDF] MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS DEMAND NO. 51 Police (In ` crores)
    This provision is for meeting expenditure on grants to. States through Narcotics Control Bureau to cover gaps in States' resources for controlling traffic in ...
  19. [19]
    Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau - PIB
    Jun 25, 2025 · In 2024, law enforcement agencies across India, including the NCB seized drugs ... Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), over the years, has been ...
  20. [20]
    [PDF] DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD OFFICERS' HANDBOOK
    The DLEO has to be an officer superior in rank to a peon, sepoy or constable of the departments of Central Excise, Narcotics, Narcotics Control Bureau, Revenue ...
  21. [21]
    Punishment for Offences | DOR
    Under NDPS Act, abetment, criminal conspiracy and even attempts to commit an offence attract the same punishment as the offence itself. Preparation to commit an ...
  22. [22]
    [PDF] Appointment of Special Public Prosecutor for Narcotics Control Bureau
    The eligible advocates may apply along with their. Curriculum Vitae in the requisite proformas 'A', 'B' & 'C' as indicated in the scheme to the Zonal Director, ...
  23. [23]
    [PDF] Public Prosecutor (PP) - Narcotics Control Bureau
    The candidates appointed as Public Prosecutor shall be required to prosecute the court cases of Hyderabad Zone of NCB, provide legal advice on investigation ...
  24. [24]
    India - 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)
    In 2015, NCB continued to use satellite imagery and intelligence gathering to track and reduce illicit poppy cultivation. Because of the poor quality of ...
  25. [25]
    narco coordination centre - Press Release:Press Information Bureau
    Jul 23, 2025 · 1. Apex Committee (at the Central Government Level) · 2. Executive Committee (at the Central Government Level): · 3. State Level NCORD Committee.
  26. [26]
    National Narcotics Coordination Portal
    The Apex NCORD, Executive NCORD, State NCORD and District NCORD are four pillars of mechanism. In addition to this 04-tier structure Monthly NCORD meetings are ...E Pledge · NCB · Contact Us · Important JudgementsMissing: organizational leadership hierarchy
  27. [27]
    strengthening ndps act and tackling cross-border drug trafficking - PIB
    Dec 18, 2024 · (vi) NCB India takes part in real-time information sharing with various Drug Liaison Officers of other countries such as the Drug Enforcement ...
  28. [28]
    [PDF] Filling up the post of Junior Intelligence Officer in Narcotics Control
    Identification and destruction of illicit opium and cannabis cultivation;. Demand Reduction activities. Training of officers/personnel of other drug law ...
  29. [29]
    Campaigns - National Narcotics Coordination Portal
    During the aforesaid initiative Narcotics Control Bureau organized several awareness programs such as painting, poster making, walkathon, cyclothon etc.Missing: prevention | Show results with:prevention
  30. [30]
    [PDF] NCB Organizes Nationwide Nasha Mukt Pakhwada (fortnightly) a ...
    Jun 26, 2025 · ... Nasha Mukt Bharat. Pakhwara organized by NCB Bengaluru Zone in collaboration with S-VYASA University,. RGUHS, Bharatiya Nurses and Allied ...
  31. [31]
    [PDF] narcotics control bureau (ncb)
    Sep 3, 2025 · Conduct awareness campaigns and workshops for students, school counselors/wellness teachers, parents and other stakeholders about the dangers of ...
  32. [32]
    CBSE & Narcotics Control Bureau launch pilot programme to ...
    Sep 4, 2025 · CBSE & Narcotics Control Bureau launch pilot programme to prevent drug abuse in schools ... awareness campaigns, workshops and counselling ...
  33. [33]
    CBSE & NCB Launch Nationwide Anti-Drug Drive in Schools
    Aug 23, 2025 · Awareness Programs for students, teachers, principals, and counselors · Workshops and training sessions on drug prevention and intervention ...<|separator|>
  34. [34]
    NCB Collaborates with Indian Railways to Strengthen Fight Against ...
    Sep 26, 2025 · In a social media post, NCB said that the collaboration will focus on conducting awareness campaigns by displaying anti-drug messages and MANAS ...
  35. [35]
    measures to prevent drug abuse and combat illegal drug trade - PIB
    Mar 18, 2025 · To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and implemented the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) ...
  36. [36]
    About Us | Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
    Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign is a three-pronged attack combining the supply curb by Narcotics Control Bureau, Outreach and Awareness and Demand Reduction effort ...<|separator|>
  37. [37]
    About MANAS - National Narcotics Helpline
    Special Features : · ○ Citizens can report any drug-related crime, and seek help regarding rehabilitation and counselling using the MANAS portal at ncbmanas.gov.Missing: website | Show results with:website<|separator|>
  38. [38]
    Amritsar Zonal Unit of the NCB axed a drug diversion cartel ... - PIB
    May 2, 2025 · The Amritsar Zonal Unit of the NCB axed a drug diversion cartel through a 4-month-long operation across 4 states, seizing drugs worth ₹547 crore and arresting ...Missing: busts | Show results with:busts
  39. [39]
    https://www.newsonair.gov.in/ncb-busts-illegal-alprazolam-lab-in-ratlam-seizes-over-13-kg-of-psychotropic-drugs/
  40. [40]
    Back-to-back major breakthroughs against illegal drugs in a ... - PIB
    Nov 15, 2024 · The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today confiscated 82.53 kg of high-grade cocaine in New Delhi. The massive drug consignment worth approximately Rs 900 crore ...Missing: busts | Show results with:busts
  41. [41]
    drug seizures - PIB
    Jul 22, 2025 · During the period 2020 to 2025 (upto May), NCB has registered 116 major cases wherein 109318 kgs of drugs have been seized. NCB has ...Missing: domestic | Show results with:domestic
  42. [42]
    Value of seized narcotics in 2024 is more than 55 per cent as ... - PIB
    Feb 10, 2025 · Value of seized narcotics in 2024 is more than 55 per cent as compared to Rs 16,100 crore seized in 2023. In 2024, the seized drugs included ...Missing: domestic | Show results with:domestic
  43. [43]
    NCB flags rising drug smuggling through coastal routes
    Sep 18, 2025 · The NCB also recorded a steady rise in ATS seizures. In 2024, 8,406 kilograms of ATS were seized, nearly five times the 1,704 kilograms ...
  44. [44]
    Top Bollywood actresses questioned in drug probe | Reuters
    Sep 26, 2020 · 8 the NCB arrested Rajput's girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, accusing her of being "active in a drug syndicate connected with drug supplies ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  45. [45]
    15 Bollywood celebrities involved in drug use are on NCB radar
    Sep 11, 2020 · During the NCB investigation, it was found that Showik Chakraborty and Dipesh Sawant used courier service for the delivery of drugs from ...
  46. [46]
    Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone to be questioned by police ...
    Sep 25, 2020 · Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone to be questioned by police as celebrity drug ... Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Rakesh ...
  47. [47]
    From Rhea Chakraborty to Bharti Singh, A List of Bollywood Celebs ...
    Oct 3, 2021 · She has been accused of procuring drugs for Rajput. The Narcotics Control Bureau had called her as an “active member of a drug syndicate".
  48. [48]
    From Siddhant Kapoor to Aryan Khan: Celebrities who were ...
    Jun 13, 2022 · A popular 90s face, Mamta Kulkarni, was named as an accused in a big drug racket case in June 2018. Drugs worth Rs 2000 crore was reportedly ...
  49. [49]
    Cruise drugs bust: Who is Sameer Wankhede, NCB officer who has ...
    Oct 3, 2021 · On Saturday evening, he led a team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths that busted a drugs party aboard a luxury cruise anchored off ...Missing: involving | Show results with:involving<|separator|>
  50. [50]
    Cordelia drugs bust case: NCB let off 17 including drug peddler ...
    May 15, 2023 · Cordelia drugs bust case: NCB let off 17 including drug peddler, says CBI. Of the 27 people rounded up during a raid on Goa-bound Cordelia ...
  51. [51]
    NCB busts international syndicate, seizes cocaine worth ₹200 cr
    Feb 8, 2025 · The Mumbai unit of the NCB has busted a major narcotics trafficking syndicate with international linkages by seizing multiple drugs worth ₹200 crore in the ...
  52. [52]
    Drug cartel active across four continents busted in multi-agency ...
    Jul 2, 2025 · NCB busts global drug cartel using crypto payments, encrypted platforms, and international drop shippers, leading to multiple arrests and ...Missing: 2023-2025 | Show results with:2023-2025
  53. [53]
    Why Narcotics in India Should Be Treated as a Threat to National ...
    The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, but the act itself created the ...
  54. [54]
    The Narcoterrorism Challenge to India's National Security
    Jul 29, 2024 · ... stop drug smuggling and terrorism through its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. ... Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, ...
  55. [55]
    India: INCB Annual Report 2023 highlights linkages between drug ...
    Apr 15, 2024 · The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Annual Report 2023 has provided a comprehensive overview of the drug trade landscape in South Asia.
  56. [56]
    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah ...
    Jan 11, 2025 · Shri Shah said that the NCB should train all state government's narcotics units and prosecution teams to ensure a 100% conviction rate in drug ...
  57. [57]
    Narcotics Control Bureau's Bollywood fishing expedition high on ...
    Narcotics Control Bureau's Bollywood fishing expedition high on politics, low on drugs. Narcotics Control Bureau, which generally ignores the Kanwarias smoking ...
  58. [58]
    Aryan Khan drugs case takes political turn, opposition alleges NCB ...
    Oct 14, 2021 · During the 12-hour raid, the agency recovered a variety of drugs, including ecstasy, cocaine, mephedrone, hydroponic weed and charas, and Rs1.
  59. [59]
    Congress, NCP demand CBI reveal outcome in Sushant death case
    Jun 14, 2021 · The NCP said the CBI probe into the case was politically motivated. The comments came on the first death anniversary of Bollywood actor Rajput.
  60. [60]
    Sushant Singh Rajput death case: The timeline of events and key ...
    Mar 22, 2025 · Controversies around Bollywood nepotism and political interference persisted throughout the high-profile probe, involving multiple agencies.Missing: motivation | Show results with:motivation<|separator|>
  61. [61]
    NCB says it doesn't see political affiliation or religion, dismisses ...
    Oct 10, 2021 · NCB says it doesn't see political affiliation or religion, dismisses 'motivated' allegations. The Narcotics Control Bureau said all the ...
  62. [62]
    'NCB let off 3 individuals including BJP leader's kin after cruise ship ...
    Oct 9, 2021 · With the same criteria, we can hold NCP and Nawab Malik responsible for the arrest of his son in law (Sameer Khan) by the NCB in a drug abuse ...
  63. [63]
    Mumbai: BJP leaders defend party workers who tipped off NCB in ...
    Oct 7, 2021 · Mumbai: BJP leaders defend party workers who tipped off NCB in Aryan Khan drugs case ... Opposition leader in the legislative council ...
  64. [64]
    Drugs case: NCB says it doesn't see political affiliation or religion ...
    Oct 9, 2021 · Based on a tip-off, an NCB team raided the Goa-bound cruise ship last Saturday and claimed to have recovered banned drugs. A total of 18 persons ...<|separator|>
  65. [65]
    Drugs case: NCB says it doesn't see political affiliation or religion ...
    Oct 9, 2021 · Drugs case: NCB says it doesn't see political affiliation or religion, dismisses 'motivated' allegations. Mumbai Drug Case: The incident took a ...
  66. [66]
    Debating NDPS Act: 'A Pandora's box for already corrupt officers...'
    Oct 26, 2021 · All eyes are on NCB right now, but part of the problem is the NDPS Act. This is how the law got passed despite many MPs raising concerns about its misuse.
  67. [67]
    16 officials facing corruption charges, NCB reveals after RTI appeal
    Dec 29, 2021 · 16 officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the agency tasked with combating drug trafficking, are themselves facing corruption charges.
  68. [68]
    Former DMK leader arrested in ₹2000 crore international drugs ...
    Mar 9, 2024 · Former DMK leader arrested in ₹2,000 crore international drugs trafficking case. 'Links to film industry, DMK': NCB arrests Tamil Nadu-based ...
  69. [69]
    Opinion | Profiting Politically from Illicit Trafficking: A Threat to ...
    Mar 30, 2024 · ... The arrest of former Tamil Nadu DMK ... The NCB is also probing suspected political funding using drug money.
  70. [70]
    [PDF] Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia - unodc
    May 10, 2025 · Major methamphetamine seizures and trafficking flows in northeastern India, 2024 and 2025. (May). Patna. Thimphu. Gangtok. Mandalay. Lhasa.
  71. [71]
    [PDF] substance use - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
    This report is an output from the project National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in. India which was commissioned and funded by Ministry of ...
  72. [72]
    Understanding the epidemiology of substance use in India - NIH
    The Magnitude survey of 2019 included 82,875 adolescents (age groups 10 to 19 years) and reported the prevalence of current use as 0.9% for cannabis, 1.8% for ...
  73. [73]
    “The Masterminds Are Never Caught”: Supreme Court Slams Drug ...
    Oct 18, 2025 · Supreme Court slams drug enforcement agencies for failing to catch NDPS masterminds, saying small offenders are jailed while real financiers ...
  74. [74]
    Addressing the Challenges of Drug Enforcement in India
    May 5, 2025 · It critiques the limitations of India's legislative ... The Act, and by extension, statutory agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
  75. [75]
    Substance Abuse In India: A Critical Review Of The National Action ...
    Jun 9, 2025 · The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) is formulated on four pillars: prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, capacity building, and ...
  76. [76]
    Adolescent Drug Use in India: Emerging Trends and the Way Forward
    Aug 22, 2025 · Correspondingly, opioid use experienced a significant increase from 0.1% in the 2001 survey to 1.8% in the 2019 survey. On examining the legal ...
  77. [77]
    [PDF] recent trends in the ndps laws in india: balancing enforcement and ...
    One of the primary criticisms of the NDPS Act is its stringent punitive provisions, which do not adequately distinguish between drug traffickers and ...
  78. [78]
    Unconstitutional Movement Tracking? Exploring the Tension ...
    Sep 5, 2024 · Recently in 2024, the Supreme Court of India held in Frank Vitus v. Narcotics Control Bureau and Ors, that the condition imposed on a convict ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
  79. [79]
    Analysis of the Drug Laws in India - Peculiar yet Imperative - Lexology
    Nov 23, 2021 · The NDPS Act over the years has faced a lot of criticism for penalizing the repeat offenders by the death penalty in case the number of drugs ...
  80. [80]
    Beyond regulation: Reimagining India's narcotic drugs and ...
    May 15, 2025 · Conducts inspection and seizes illegal drugs at ports, airports, and land borders in compliance with NDPS act.
  81. [81]
    [PDF] Drug Menace and the failure of the NDPS Act to curb the issues in ...
    The objective of this study is to analysis the status of drug abuse in Indian market primarily in Delhi and the reasons behind the failure of the NDPS Act to ...
  82. [82]
    India signed 27 bilateral pacts, 16 MoUs with different countries to ...
    Aug 2, 2023 · “Since illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and its abuse is a translational problem, Government of India has entered into bilateral agreements ...
  83. [83]
    India is party to 26 bilateral pacts to fight drug trafficking - The Hindu
    Jul 21, 2021 · India is party to 26 bilateral pacts to fight drug trafficking. NCB ... The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinated with various ...
  84. [84]
    Joint Statement of the Third Meeting of the India-U.S. ...
    Jul 22, 2022 · The Narcotics Control Bureau, India (NCB) hosted the third meeting of the India-US Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG) in New Delhi, India on 7-8 July, 2022.Missing: partnerships | Show results with:partnerships
  85. [85]
    GRIDS convenes cross-border twinning event in India for officers ...
    Ten officers from the Customs Service in the Maldives, and the Narcotics Control Bureau and Central Bureau of Narcotics in India, took part in the event. Cross- ...Missing: multilateral | Show results with:multilateral
  86. [86]
    [PDF] Narcotics Control Bureau
    Sep 4, 2025 · The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in close coordination with INTERPOL, has successfully got published 1st Silver Notice against Pawan ...
  87. [87]
    India: UNODC presents key trends and good practices at the ...
    Sep 17, 2025 · UNODC presented global good practices in drug demand reduction and shared the latest trends in trafficking at the first National Conference ...
  88. [88]
    [PDF] Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2024
    Jan 2, 2024 · country's history. Data released by the country's anti-drug force show a ... Narcotics Control Bureau. (1990–1994); and retired as Chief ...
  89. [89]
    Fifth Annual Meeting of the U.S.-India Counternarcotics Working Group
    Oct 24, 2024 · From October 23rd to 24th, the Government of India hosted the United States in New Delhi for the fifth annual meeting of the US-India Counternarcotics Working ...
  90. [90]
    [PDF] International Narcotics Control Strategy Report - State Department
    Mar 1, 2025 · Office of Field Operations, International Operations and Advisory Directorate (IOAD): IOAD is OFO's “Global Frontline” and houses all of ...
  91. [91]
    Interpol issues NCB's first 'Silver Notice' against Dubai-based Indian ...
    Sep 4, 2025 · The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) secured its first 'Silver Notice' from Interpol against Pawan Thakur, a Dubai-based Indian drug trafficker.
  92. [92]
    NCB Issues First Silver Notice Against Pawan Thakur for 82 kg ...
    Sep 4, 2025 · NCB Issues First Silver Notice Against Pawan Thakur for 82 kg Cocaine Seizure. The Narcotics Control Bureau, in close coordination with INTERPOL ...
  93. [93]
    NCB's Ketamelon syndicate expose was part of Interpol's crackdown ...
    Sep 16, 2025 · In India, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) brought down the most advanced darknet drug syndicate run by Ketamelon, born Edison Babu, in July.
  94. [94]
    Press Release - National Narcotics Coordination Portal
    NCB organized the 3rd India-USA Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) ... The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) hosted the 5 th Anti-Drug Working Group ...
  95. [95]
    NCB busts global drug cartel spanning four continents; Amit Shah ...
    Jul 2, 2025 · Amit Shah on Wednesday lauded the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and associated enforcement agencies for dismantling a sprawling global drug cartel.Missing: domestic | Show results with:domestic
  96. [96]
    NCB busts global drug cartel using encrypted apps, crypto and B2B ...
    Jul 4, 2025 · The NCB dismantled a global drug cartel using encrypted apps, crypto, B2B platforms, and anonymous shipping, with a multi-layered structure and ...
  97. [97]
    DRUG TRAFFICKING IN INDIA: MARITIME DIMENSIONS
    Dec 31, 2021 · [52] It highlighted that ports, such as Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, were transit ports for drug trafficking, with Mumbai also being a ...
  98. [98]
    [PDF] Causes of Rising Drug Trafficking in India and Ways to Stop ... - IJFMR
    Mar 8, 2024 · According to the latest annual report by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), drug trafficking through sea routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay ...
  99. [99]
    [PDF] ORGANIZED CRIMINAL NETWORKS LINKED WITH DRUG ...
    In 2021, India reported its highest volume of drug seizures in three decades and rising rates of interception on the maritime route, which is estimated to be ...
  100. [100]
    NCB highlights six-fold rise in trafficking of synthetic drugs since 2019
    Sep 18, 2025 · Business NewsNewsIndiaNCB highlights six-fold rise in trafficking of synthetic drugs since 2019 ... threat' · Trump is itching for a war with ...
  101. [101]
    How India became a methamphetamine, cocaine hub - DW
    Jan 6, 2025 · The UN anti-drug agency UNODC cites India as a major hub of illicit shipments of precursor drugs destined for meth labs internationally, ...
  102. [102]
    Drug-laden Pakistani drones significant threat to India's internal ...
    Sep 16, 2025 · Narcotics Control Bureau reports a six-fold increase in synthetic drug seizures since 2019. Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the report.Missing: domestic | Show results with:domestic
  103. [103]
    India-Pakistan border sees a sharp rise in drone-driven drug ...
    Sep 16, 2025 · “The use of drones for cross-border smuggling of narcotics has emerged as a significant threat to India's internal security, particularly along ...
  104. [104]
    Amit Shah launches NCB drug disposal campaign, calls for ruthless ...
    Sep 16, 2025 · The Home Minister warned of the rising threat of synthetic drugs and labs, urging states to identify and destroy them. He advocated for a ...
  105. [105]
    Synthetic drug use soars worldwide as South Asia grapples with ...
    ... India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—to escalating threats. India has reported an intensification of opiate trafficking from Afghanistan ...Missing: emerging | Show results with:emerging
  106. [106]
    Home Ministry wants 3000 extra posts at NCB - The Economic Times
    Oct 27, 2021 · Citing drug menace as an internal security threat, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has pitched for creation of additional 3,000 posts at ...
  107. [107]
    [PDF] recommendations/observations - Digital Sansad
    Mar 14, 2025 · the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been allocated ₹193.77 crores for 2025-26, which should be utilized effectively to enhance drug ...
  108. [108]
    [PDF] EXPENDITURE PROFILE 2023-2024 - Union Budget
    ... Force. 158.39. 620.45. 150.52. 264.12. 7. Narcotics Control Bureau. 1.19. 5.00. 5.00. 5.00. 8. National Forensic Science University. 10.00. 10.00. 10.00. 14.00.
  109. [109]
    Government to move NDPS from Finance Ministry to Ministry of ...
    Jun 23, 2022 · The MHA looks after "all matters relating to Narcotics Control Bureau set up under the provisions of Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and ...