The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) serves as the Central Authority and National Nodal Agency to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Key Points of NCB Annual Report 2025
- Global and Domestic Threat Landscape:
- Globally, drug users have surged to 316 million (29% surge over the last decade).
- India's vulnerability: Compounded by geographic location between two largest drug production zones i.e. Golden Crescent (Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan) and Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Thailand-Laos).
- Emerging Threats:
- Traffickers are increasingly utilizing technology to evade detection such as darknet marketplaces, cryptocurrency (like Monero and Zcash) for laundering proceeds, and social commerce apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) for drug sales.
- New synthetic threats like 'Nitazenes' (500 times stronger than heroin) and 'Kush' (a synthetic cocktail) are rapidly spreading.
- Enforcement Achievements (2025): The NCB significantly stepped up operations, registering 702 cases in 2025 (from 417 in 2024) with a recorded conviction rate of ~52%.
- Technological Integrations: To combat tech-savvy criminals, the NCB has
- Integrated cyber patrolling,
- Signed MoUs with institutions like the National Forensic Sciences University,
- Launched the MANAS-1933 helpline and portal for citizens to confidentially report trafficking.
Way Forward: 4 Strategic Pillars in Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029)
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