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.