Drug Trafficking: India Becoming Global Hub?

You can get detach from Social media addiction but what if you are addicted to any alcoholic thing mainly drugs, India is rapidly transforming into a major hub for drug trafficking, you might have heard about human trafficking but drug trafficking is even more dangerous confirmed by the report of International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), India is the world leader in the production and trade of drugs on the dark net. India bought cheap drugs through Afghanistan, worth more than $6.5 billion. And the number of people consuming drugs has risen to 292 million in 2022, a 20 per cent increase over 10 years. Cannabis remains the most widely used drug worldwide (228 million users), followed by opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users), and ecstasy (20 million users).

What is Drug Trafficking and why it is dangerous?

It is a social issue that harms youth and families and the saved money is diverted for disruptive activities that have bearings on national security. Networking crime’s traffic range of drugs including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Methamphetamine (meth) is an addictive drug and can cause considerable health adversities that can sometimes result in death. Recently, the USA has witnessed a new zombie drug (fentanyl) gripping its population that causes raw wounds on the user’s skin that can spread rapidly with repeated exposure starts with ulcers, hardens to dead skin called eschar, and if left untreated can result in amputation. Drug trafficking can be identified with other forms of crime, such as terrorism, money laundering or corruption. Trafficking routes can also be used by criminal networks to transport other illicit products.

Methamphetamine is not just an addictive drug but the leading Seized form of drug in Off Porbandar In Operation Sagar-Manthan where the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with the Indian Navy and Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), seized 700 kg of methamphetamine from the coast of Porbandar and arrested eight foreigners claiming to be Iranian nationals also Indian agencies have so far seized 3,400 kg of narcotics and arrested 25 foreign nationals, including Iranians and Pakistanis.

Cocaine Seizure In Delhi: Syndicates Targeting International Routes

After the Sagar-Manthan incident India’s growing involvement in the global drug trade, the NCB seized 82.52 kg of high-grade cocaine valued at more than 900 crores in the international market, in Delhi’s Janakpuri and Nangloi areas. Destined for Australia via courier services, the consignment was tracked to two locations, leading to the arrest of two individuals. The syndicate operated through pseudonyms and hawala operators to maintain anonymity.

Who are the Major Drug-Producing Regions in the World?

• The Golden Crescent: It includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, a major global hub for opium production and distribution affecting Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• The Golden Triangle: It is located at the intersection of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand notorious for heroin production (Myanmar produces 80% of global heroin). Trafficking routes that pass through Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

What are the Factors Contributing to Drug Abuse in India?

• Poverty and Unemployment: It is a large factor that needs to be considered Individuals with lower income use cheap and easily get involved in drug circulation to temporarily escape from harsh realities like poverty, unemployment, and poor living conditions. A slum rehabilitation program in Chennai reported that 70% of adult drug users cited poverty-related stress as a key factor.
• Peer Pressure and Social Influences: We might all have followed our friend’s decisions once in a lifetime. Teenagers experiment with drugs at parties to fit in the social group. Youth emulates celebrities or social media influencers who portray drug use as fashionable and get influence.
  • A 2023 cybercrime unit investigation uncovered a network using Instagram to advertise pharma parties in Goa, reaching over 100,000 potential attendees.
• Legal System Loopholes: Organized crime syndicates exploit legal system loopholes, such as weak border controls, to smuggle drugs and often misuse trade routes from Africa and South Asia for drug trafficking purposes. In 2023, the Border Security Force reported a 35% increase in drug seizures along the India-Pakistan border, highlighting the ongoing challenges in controlling illicit drug flows through these routes.

What are the Initiatives Taken to Tackle Drug Abuse in India?

Every addiction needs to be over some time and there is a tackling solution for smoking It is nicotine that helps in quitting, and for drinking there’s a centre that helps to tackle, so to deal with drugs Indian Government has taken some initiatives to make India free from Drugs production, distribution and consumption.

• Project Sunrise: It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2016, to lessen the rising HIV prevalence in north-eastern states in India, especially among people injecting drugs.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat: The government has introduced the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or Drug-Free India Campaign which focuses on community outreach programs.
• Narco-Coordination Centre: The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) was constituted in 2016 and the “Financial Assistance to States for Narcotics Control” scheme was revived.
• Seizure Information Management System: The Narcotics Control Bureau has been provided funds for developing new software like the Seizure Information Management System (SIMS) which will create a complete online database of drug offenses and offenders.
• National Drug Abuse Survey: The government also conducted a National Drug Abuse Survey to measure trends of drug abuse in India through the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment with the help of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of AIIMS.

India As A Global Drug Supplier And Consumer

Nearly 60 per cent of the drugs entering India are routed to international markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Arab nations, and Africa. As 40 per cent enter the Indian domestic circles, the domestic scene is equally harmful, with drug use spreading across rural and urban areas. No state is free from the drug menace. Heroin, methamphetamine, synthetic drugs, and hydroponic marijuana are increasingly being abused by the youth, a growing domestic demand. Youth is the country’s upcoming economy generation but drugs are diverting and impacting the young minds at large.

Routes And Operations

Drugs from the Death Crescent enter India through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir, while supplies from the Death Triangle flow into northeastern states like Manipur and Nagaland. Coastal regions facilitate maritime smuggling, as evidenced by Operation Sagar-Manthan and the recent methamphetamine seizures courier and cargo services are being exploited for cocaine smuggling to international destinations like Australia.

Global And Domestic Concerns

India’s dual role as a supplier and consumer of narcotics poses significant threats. Expanding international syndicates destabilize global markets while rising domestic addiction rates burden healthcare and law enforcement systems. Without swift and coordinated action, India risks becoming a dominant player in the global narcotics network. India stands at a critical juncture. The staggering methamphetamine seizure in the Andaman seas, the Porbandar bust under Operation Sagar-Manthan, and the series of October drug hauls underscore the urgency of the situation. It’s high time one emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy.

Enhanced Surveillance is the strategy that continues to monitor coastlines, borders, and courier networks with stronger enforcement by empowering agencies with advanced AI technology and personnel with a high level of dedication and integrity.

This problem has become a global issue worldwide including in India drug trafficking is a growing threat to India’s security, and the issue needs to be addressed urgently. Concerted and coordinated efforts of all the agencies will be required to tackle this growing threat. The nexus between terrorists and organized gangs/underworld is a new and disturbing trend and law enforcement agencies must develop new strategies to counter the new emerging trends.