Last year, Indian authorities apprehended a total of 660 foreign nationals on drug trafficking charges, among whom 106 were Nigerian citizens.
According to a detailed report by the Indian Express, the highest numbers of arrests included 203 Nepalese and 25 individuals from Myanmar.
Data sourced from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) annual report also revealed arrests of 18 Bangladeshi nationals, 14 from Ivory Coast, 13 Ghanaians, and 10 Icelanders linked to narcotics offenses.
The report was unveiled by India’s Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, during the 2nd national conference of anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) leaders representing various states and Union Territories.
As reported by CHANNELS TV, Punjab witnessed 163 drone-related drug trafficking incidents, resulting in the seizure of 187.149 kg of heroin, 5.39 kg of methamphetamine, and 4.22 kg of opium across multiple sectors. Rajasthan recorded 15 drone cases with 39.155 kg of heroin confiscated, while Jammu and Kashmir reported a single drone incident leading to the recovery of 0.344 kg of heroin.
“India’s strategic position between two notorious drug-producing zones-the Death Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and the Death Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos)-poses a significant challenge in curbing the trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances,” stated Anurag Garg, Director General of the NCB, in the annual report.
He further explained, “Heroin smuggling primarily affects Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir due to their proximity to Pakistan, whereas the northeastern states such as Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh face threats from Myanmar. Additionally, coastal regions including Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are increasingly exploited for smuggling synthetic drugs and their precursors.”
During his address at the conference, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the urgent need to bring drug kingpins operating from abroad under legal jurisdiction, affirming the Narendra Modi administration’s commitment to eradicating narcotics from India.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made commendable progress in this area. I urge all ANTF leaders to collaborate with the CBI to facilitate the extradition of fugitives. This strategy will not only dismantle drug trafficking networks but also disrupt terrorist organizations. Measures are also underway to target individuals involved in the retail distribution of drugs,” he asserted.
