NCB is the national nodal agency established in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking of NDPS.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi and is under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs.
Drug Trafficking Scenario in India
- India’s Vulnerable Location: Between Death Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and Death Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos)-two major global drug-producing regions.
- While Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir are vulnerable to heroin smuggling from Pakistan, the north-eastern states are affected by proximity to Myanmar.
- Coastal routes: Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu are now increasingly being exploited for smuggling of synthetic drugs and precursors.
- Emerging Trends:
- Shift towards synthetic drugs like Methamphetamine, LSD, Mephedrone etc.
- Secrete laboratories in hotspots of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, North-Eastern States etc.
- Emergence of darknet markets and cryptocurrency-based transactions providing anonymity and global accessibility,
- Maritime Drug Trafficking through ports like Chabahar, Gwadar, Karachi etc.
- Use of drones for narcotics smuggling through India Pakistan Border.
- India’s Initiatives: Prevention of Illicit Traffic in NDPS Act, 1988, National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD), National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco Offenders (NIDAAN), MANAS National Narcotics Helpline, Drug-Free India Campaign etc.
Suggested Steps for Dismantling Drug Trafficking Networks
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