CROSS-BORDER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND BORDER SECURITY

Cross-border drug trafficking continues to pose a significant challenge in the country, including the North-Eastern States. Due to their proximity to the Death Triangle and porous borders with Myanmar, the North Eastern States   remain   particularly   vulnerable   to   transnational   trafficking   of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) and Heroin through organised cross border trafficking networks. As reported by various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a total of 4626 kg of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) and 2652 kg of Heroin has been seized during 2021 to 2025.

The vulnerable border stretches with Free Movement Regime (FMR) has facilitated drug trafficking activities in North-Eastern region.  Drug trafficking syndicates continue to adopt changing modus operandi, including concealment in legitimate trade and passenger movements, coordination through local receiver networks to facilitate illicit trafficking and change in trafficking routes to counter enforcement measures. To address these challenges, Government has taken various measures, some of which are as under: –

(i)       To address the challenge of illicit drug trafficking & abuse of drugs, Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) has been released on 26.06.2026. The Vision Document is to be implemented by the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments/ agencies and the State Governments/UTs as per the action points and timelines specifically mentioned for each Central Ministry/ Department/ Agency. The four key focus areas outlined in the vision document are as under: –

1. Enforcement (Intelligence & Operations)
2. Precursors & Synthetic Drugs Control
3. Demand & Harm Reduction
4. Capacity Building & Coordination

(ii)      Established a 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central & State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India. The Apex and Executive Committee of NCORD meetings are held in the Centre, whereas State-level NCORD meetings are chaired by the Chief Secretary on a quarterly basis and District-level NCORD meetings are held monthly under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate to review enforcement, intelligence sharing and preventive measures.

(iii)     Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meetings are held regularly in which all relevant Central and State agencies participate, to discuss investigation of important narcotics cases in the State.

(iv)     A dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by Additional Director General/ Inspector General level Police Officer is established in each State/UT to function as the NCORD Secretariat for the State/UT and follow-up on compliance of decisions taken in NCORD meetings at different levels.

(v)      Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been regularly coordinating with other agencies like, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force, State ANTF etc. to conduct joint operations to control the drug trafficking.

(vi)     To enhance coordination with State Authorities, facilitate real-time intelligence sharing, for ensuring effective operational efficiency and to improve the geographical footprint of the bureau, NCB has established Zonal Units in key border areas such as Srinagar, Siliguri, Agartala and Itanagar and sub-zones have been upgraded to zones. Further, Government has approved the establishment of six new Zonal offices out of which four are being established in North-Eastern States i.e. Dimapur (Nagaland), Aizwal (Mizoram), Shillong (Meghlaya) and Gangtok (Sikkim).

(vii)    Government is extending comprehensive support for combating trans-border narcotics trafficking through various means like deployment of

advanced Anti-drone systems along most vulnerable stretches, installation of enhanced surveillance systems including CCTV cameras, PTZ, NVD, strengthening border fencing through installation of new design fence, Border flood light etc.

The pattern of narcotics trafficking through the North-Eastern Region has undergone significant changes in terms of the type of drugs trafficked, trafficking routes and modus operandi adopted by drug trafficking syndicates.

The region continues to witness trafficking of heroin however, there has been a marked increase in the trafficking of Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth/YABA) from Myanmar, particularly through Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, reflecting a shift towards synthetic drugs. Simultaneously, there are reports of smuggling precursor chemicals from various parts of the country to Myanmar for the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs.

Drug trafficking syndicates are increasingly exploiting porous and unfenced stretches of the Indo-Myanmar border, forest routes, foot tracks and hilly terrain for cross-border movement of narcotic drugs. Narcotics are concealed in legitimate cargo, passenger vehicles and goods carriers, while courier  services,  parcel  networks,  social  media  platforms  and  encrypted communication applications are increasingly being used for coordination and delivery. The Moreh–Tamu border continues to remain a major transit point for trafficking of heroin and methamphetamine originating from Myanmar to various parts of the country.

As per latest data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pertaining to the year 2024; State-wise/ UT-wise details of narcotics seized during 2020-2024 is at Annexure-I and persons arrested and persons convicted during 2020-2024 is at Annexure-II.

Annexure-I

State-wise/ UT-wise details of narcotics seized during 2020-2021

Source: Crime in India (NCRB)

Annexure-I (Continued)

State-wise/ UT-wise details of narcotics seized during 2022-2023

Source: Crime in India (NCRB)

Annexure-I (Continued)

State-wise/ UT-wise details of narcotics seized during 2024

Source: Crime in India (NCRB)

Annexure-II

State-wise/ UT-wise Persons Arrested (PAR) and Persons Convicted (PCV) during 2020-2024

Source: Crime in India (NCRB)

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.