• The narcotics trade is assuming dangerous proportions all over the world.
• It is a social problem that harms youth and families and the money it generates is diverted for disruptive activities that have bearings on national security.
• The issue has kept security agencies and law enforcement agencies on the tenterhooks.

Drug Trafficking Challenge in India

• Golden Crescent & Golden Triangle: India has been seen as sandwiched between them.
• The country is being flooded with drugs, especially heroin, and methamphetamine, from these two regions by drug lords indirectly supported by intelligence setups.
• Nearly 90 percent of the world’s demand for these drugs is being met from these two regions.
• India is both a big market and a transit route for other countries.
• Afghanistan & Pakistan: there are indications that parts of Pakistan adjoining Afghanistan are also used by Pakistani drug traffickers to convert Afghan opium to heroin.
• Myanmar: the Shan and Kachin provinces bordering China also pose challenges.
• These heroin and methamphetamine-producing areas have porous borders and are under the control of rebel groups, indirectly supported by the Chinese.
• Illicit arms are manufactured here and supplied to underground groups active in India.
• The use of drones to supply drugs and weapons across the border in Punjab is a new phenomenon and law enforcement agencies are working out strategies to neutralize this.
• Also, the maritime route became very active after the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir.

How Indian Coast Guard (ICG) responded to Maritime drug trafficking?

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in conjunction with the intelligence agencies, has been making big seizures frequently.
• ICG has developed a good synergy not only with the security agencies but also with the coast guards of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh.
• It seized 2,160 kgs of meth in two different instances recently near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The drugs were destined for Thailand from Myanmar.
• Investigations have indicated the connection of drug traffickers from across borders with terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
• The illegal money is used for terror activities sponsored by the ISI.

Cocaine:

• India has surprisingly also become a hot destination for cocaine.
• The supply of Cocaine is controlled by South American drug cartels.
• Investigations have revealed the connection of these cartels with NRIs based in Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and several European countries along with local drug lords and gangsters in India.
• They have links with Khalistani terrorists and the ISI in Pakistan.

How drug markets are growing?

Use of Darknet in drug trafficking

• 62 percent of the darknet is being used for illicit drug trafficking.
• Darknet markets are disrupting traditional drug markets because of their anonymity and low risks.
• Cryptocurrency payments and doorstep deliveries have made darknet transactions attractive.

How to tackle the threat posed by Darknet in drug trafficking?

• Concerted and coordinated efforts of all the agencies will be required to tackle this.
• The success rate in catching traffickers using the darknet has been very low the world over.
• However, the Narcotics Control Bureau busted an organized racket of darknet vendors and arrested several Indian nationals.
• Technical surveillance followed by basic policing methods led to the seizure of large consignments of drugs and the arrest of the gang.
• The operation exposed various international connections.
• Drug cartels are networked and are using the darknet for trafficking narcotics, especially pharmaceutical opioids/synthetic drugs made in labs using deadly chemical precursors.

Use of organized gangs

• Organised gangs, which are primarily used to carry out extortion activities in their local areas, are being used for drug trafficking and gun running.
• Money attracts them to such activities, but knowingly or unknowingly they are getting into the trap of ISI and Khalistani elements settled abroad, especially in Canada, Germany, the UK, USA.
• It is easier for these terrorist groups to use these networks because they get ready-made logistics to carry out their activities.

The nexus between terrorists and organized gangs/ underworld is new and disturbing. It poses new challenge for security agencies. However, dealing with drug trafficking is necessary not just for national security but also to protect the youth of the country.