India’s Drug Problem Deepens: NCB's Latest Report Warns Of Rising Seizures And Synthetic Surge

Last Updated:September 17, 2025, 08:30 IST

The report reveals that India is caught between two of the world’s largest drug-producing regions, and traffickers are exploiting every weakness they can find

Cannabis products, including ganja, hashish and hash oil, formed the bulk of the haul: 540,810 kilograms, or 41 per cent of the total seizures. Opiates—heroin, opium, morphine and poppy straw—came in close behind at 521,366 kilograms, or 39 per cent. Representational image/ANI

India’s war against narcotics is entering a tougher phase. The latest Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Annual Report 2024 reveals that the country is caught between two of the world’s largest drug-producing regions, and traffickers are exploiting every weakness they can find.

“India faces a growing challenge in combating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances trafficking due to its geographic location i.e. between the Death Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and Death Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos)," the report notes.

There has been a record seizure in 2024, as the numbers from last year are staggering. The NCB says Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) seized 13,306 quintals of narcotic substances in 2024, one of the highest tallies ever reported.

Cannabis products, including ganja, hashish and hash oil, formed the bulk of the haul: 540,810 kilograms, or 41 per cent of the total seizures. Opiates—heroin, opium, morphine and poppy straw—came in close behind at 521,366 kilograms, or 39 per cent. Pharmaceutical drugs, particularly codeine-based cough syrups (CBCS) and other restricted medicines, made up 18 per cent. Synthetic drugs such as Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) and cocaine accounted for the final 2 per cent.

“These figures emphasize the scale and complexity of India’s narcotics problem and reinforce the continued need for intelligence-led enforcement, international cooperation, and comprehensive demand reduction strategies," the report says.

Old Routes, New Tricks

Smugglers haven’t abandoned their traditional paths. Heroin still pours into Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir from across the Pakistan border. The Northeast, with its porous boundaries with Myanmar, has become a major gateway for methamphetamine and other stimulants.

But there is also a clear shift to the sea.

“Coastal routes (Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) are now increasingly being exploited for smuggling of synthetic drugs and precursors," the report warns.

Interdiction teams say the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are seeing more suspicious traffic than ever before, forcing agencies to spread thin resources across thousands of kilometres of coastline.

The Synthetic Threat

The single biggest change, however, is the rise of synthetic drugs. The report highlights what it calls “a nearly six fold increase in the seizures of Synthetic drugs since 2019." In 2024 alone, 11,994 kilograms of synthetics from ATS to MDMA and mephedrone were taken off the market.

That figure underlines what global experts have been warning: synthetics are cheaper to produce, harder to detect, and easier to move. Unlike opium or cannabis, they don’t rely on fields or harvest seasons. Labs can be hidden in warehouses or homes.

The Road Ahead

The report praises the efforts of agencies that made these seizures possible, from the NCB to state police and customs. But it also admits the fight is far from over.

“India’s narcotics problem requires intelligence-led enforcement, international cooperation, and comprehensive demand reduction strategies," it concludes.

Ankur Sharma

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...Read More

With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar...

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