Over the past decade, India has witnessed an alarming surge in drug trafficking as authorities struggle to curb the flow of illegal narcotics and the international syndicates that move them.
Beyond the headlines about record-breaking seizures and intensified law enforcement efforts, the scale of the contraband intercepted points to porous borders and insufficient preventive measures.
The crisis is not just an enforcement challenge—it has deep social, economic and geopolitical implications that affect the everyday lives of ordinary Indians and future stability of the state.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows a dramatic rise in drug-related cases. In 2023, over 100,000 drug seizures were reported, up from 70,000 in 2014—a nearly 43% increase in just a decade.
This escalation, while reflecting increased enforcement, also reveals that India’s borders remain vulnerable and traffickers continue to exploit weaknesses.
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs reported a surge in the trafficking of heroin, methamphetamines and cannabis, with heroin seizures doubling from 1,300 kilograms in 2017 to 2,400 kilograms in 2022.
One of the primary hotspots is the India-Pakistan border. Drug syndicates are exploiting particularly weak surveillance in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
In 2022, Punjab police seized 440 kilograms of heroin, a 35% increase from 2020. Meanwhile, drug smuggling via India’s coastal routes has also spiked. In 2023, 3,000 kilograms of narcotics were intercepted along the Gujarat coastline, a 50% jump from 2018 that has exposed systemic gaps in maritime security.
While government officials claim these higher seizures reflect improved enforcement, they are symptomatic of a broader failure. The persistence of drug trafficking suggests that India’s borders are not sufficiently fortified against the onslaught of transnational cartels.
Border states like Punjab, Gujarat and West Bengal are particularly affected, with massive drug busts recorded at key entry points.
For instance, in 2021, authorities seized 3,000 kilograms of heroin at Gujarat’s Adani Mundra Port, marking one of India’s largest-ever drug hauls and underscoring the growing scale of these illicit operations.
Most recently, just days after Delhi police uncovered one of India’s largest drug busts with a cocaine haul worth over ₹5,600 crore (US$747.6 million), authorities seized mephedrone and its raw materials valued at over ₹1,400 crore ($159 million) from a factory in Bhopal.
In 2022, heroin alone, priced between ₹5 and ₹10 crore ($667,000 to $1.33 million) per kilogram—amounted to ₹31,500 crore ($4.2 billion) in seized contraband.
The 3,000 kilograms of methamphetamines seized in 2021, worth between ₹1,500 crore to ₹3,000 crore ($200 to $400 million), highlights how synthetic drugs are becoming the new frontier of the crisis.
These cheaper, easier-to-produce substances are not only fueling the drug trade but also stretching law enforcement to the brink.
This growing drug trade is largely driven by international syndicates. Over 70-80% of heroin trafficked into India is believed to come from the notorious “Golden Crescent”—an area comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran—and the infamous “Golden Triangle,” a lawless region where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet.
Northeast India, particularly states like Manipur and Mizoram, which border Myanmar, has become a significant transit hub for methamphetamine smuggling.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been restructured and empowered since 2014, with the creation of the Narco Coordination Mechanism (NCORD) in 2016 to enhance inter-agency coordination.
While these measures have led to an uptick in seizures, the fundamental issue remains unaddressed: India’s drug trafficking networks are expanding faster than the country’s ability to contain them.
The top 50 most drug-affected districts, particularly those in border states, are now seeing a dramatic rise in drug-related crime.
NCRB data indicates a 20% increase in narcotics-related crimes over the past decade, with over 55,000 cases registered annually under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Despite stepped-up efforts, drugs continue to flow through key points, from airports and seaports to railway stations. In the face of this growing crisis, India’s government has also launched several demand-reduction initiatives.
The “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan,” an anti-drug campaign, aims to provide “de-addiction” services to over 200,000 individuals by 2025.
However, the sheer scale of drug trafficking raises questions about whether such initiatives will be enough. The social costs, meanwhile, are mounting. Rising addiction rates, particularly among the youth, are fuelling crime, straining public health resources and undermining social stability.
India’s fight against drug trafficking has reached a tipping point. It is no longer enough to celebrate the record seizures as evidence of enforcement success.
The country must address the root causes of this crisis, from improving border surveillance to strengthening international cooperation, particularly with neighboring countries that are major sources of narcotics.
Failing to do so will result in an unchecked escalation of the drug trade, with consequences that threaten India’s future stability and well-being.
A more comprehensive strategy is needed, one that prioritizes stronger border controls, better international collaboration, enhanced public awareness and a focus on rehabilitation. If India does not adapt quickly, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Sachi Satapathy is director of AF Development Care, New Delhi, India. The author may be reached at director@afdc.in