By Staff Reporter | November 13, 2025

Dimapur: Calling drug trafficking and abuse one of India’s most “emerging security challenges,” Anurag Garg, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has warned that the illicit drug economy is increasingly intertwined with organised crime, terrorism financing, arms trafficking, and money laundering.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Regional Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Conference for the Northeastern States, including Sikkim and West Bengal, held in Dimapur, Garg underscored the urgent need for enhanced coordination and collaboration between law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies to counter the growing menace.

Drugs as a National Security Threat

In his address, Garg said that the problem of drug trafficking in the Northeast has far-reaching consequences beyond law enforcement. “It impacts public health, family well-being, and national security. Easy availability of drugs not only fuels addiction but also contributes to domestic violence, social instability, and a rising burden on healthcare systems,” he warned.

He highlighted that drug abuse has transformed from a social issue into a major national concern, undermining the region’s youth and economic potential. “The youth, who should be the driving force of the economy, become a burden,” he said, quoting a 2019 survey by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The survey found that drug consumption rates in several northeastern states were significantly higher than the national average, a trend that continues to worry policymakers.

Strengthening the ANTF and NCORD Mechanisms

Garg explained that the Narcotics Control Bureau, as the country’s nodal agency for drug law enforcement, has been working to strengthen inter-agency cooperation through mechanisms like the NCORD (National Coordination Mechanism for Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking) and the establishment of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) in every state and union territory.

“ANTFs now function as the first line of defence against the drug menace at the state level,” Garg said. “Through NCORD, we aim to create seamless coordination between central and state agencies for intelligence sharing, joint operations, and real-time tracking of drug routes and financiers.”

He cited the National ANTF Conference held in New Delhi in September, inaugurated by the Union Home Minister, as an example of how central and regional strategies are being aligned. However, he stressed that the Northeast requires special attention due to its geographical and geopolitical vulnerabilities.

The Golden Triangle and the Shifting Drug Trade

Garg pointed out that the Northeast’s proximity to the Golden Triangle — the region where the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet — makes it a crucial entry corridor for narcotics into India. The India-Myanmar border, known for its porosity and difficult terrain, facilitates the smuggling of heroin and methamphetamine into northeastern states.

“After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Myanmar has become the world’s largest producer of heroin and methamphetamine,” Garg noted. “These operations are controlled by organised crime groups, ethnic militias, and insurgent outfits involved in arms supply, extortion, and money laundering.”

He warned that the convergence of these networks has led to the flooding of Indian markets with synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, with several northeastern states becoming major entry and transit points for narcotics trafficked into India and Bangladesh.

The Need for Unified Regional Action

Thanking the Nagaland Police and the Nagaland state government for co-hosting the conference, Garg said the two-day event is designed to develop a roadmap for an integrated regional response to the growing crisis.

The conference’s key agenda items include:

• Targeting organised drug syndicates rather than small-time couriers.
• Tracing and dismantling money trails linked to drug proceeds.
• Destroying illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation in vulnerable areas.
• Enhancing real-time intelligence sharing between states and central agencies.
• Expanding de-addiction and rehabilitation infrastructure across the region.

He also urged state-level agencies to increase their reliance on technology and data-based operations. “We must make greater use of national intelligence and analytics platforms like NATGRID, NIDAAN, and other integrated databases,” he said, emphasizing that these tools enable tracking of interlinked criminal networks across state and international borders.

The Role of Technology and Coordination Mechanisms

Garg reiterated that the effective use of Joint Coordination Committees and NCORD mechanisms at both the state and district levels is essential to create a unified anti-drug framework. “Drug trafficking is not confined to any one state or border. It thrives on institutional gaps, lack of coordination, and weak intelligence flow. Only a united and synchronized approach can counter it effectively,” he stated.

He also spoke about the need to strengthen capacity building at the state level through specialized training, better resource allocation, and cross-agency workshops. “The goal is to empower ANTF units in every state with the skills, equipment, and intelligence they need to disrupt supply chains at their source,” Garg added.

A Vision for a Drug-Free India by 2047

Concluding his address, Garg expressed optimism that the conference would pave the way for stronger regional partnerships and mutual trust among the various agencies involved. “This conference will help us strengthen inter-agency trust, identify forward and backward linkages in the drug trade, and build a unified strategy to realize the vision of a Drug-Free India by 2047,” he said.

He urged all agencies present — including state police forces, customs, border security, and intelligence units — to treat the fight against narcotics as a national mission, not just a law enforcement duty. “The consequences of inaction are too grave to ignore. This is not only about crime; it is about the future of our youth, the safety of our communities, and the integrity of our borders.”

Technical Sessions and Discussion Agenda

The two-day regional conference will feature multiple technical sessions focusing on key challenges and strategies. Among the scheduled topics are:

• “Challenges of Cross-Border Trafficking: Bangladesh and Myanmar” — a deep dive into transnational smuggling networks and the use of informal trade routes.
• “Identification and Destruction of Illicit Crops” — addressing poppy and cannabis cultivation in remote areas and the use of satellite mapping for detection.
• “Drug Trafficking Scenario in the Northeast” — analyzing recent seizures, emerging patterns, and the role of technology in disrupting supply chains.

Senior officers from the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, Customs, NIA, and state police departments are participating in the sessions. The discussions are expected to culminate in a set of actionable policy recommendations for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments.

Looking Ahead

With drug trafficking in the Northeast showing an upward trend over the past decade, the NCB’s renewed focus on regional collaboration marks a significant step in India’s anti-narcotics strategy. As drug syndicates become more sophisticated — leveraging encrypted communication, dark web transactions, and complex financial channels — the demand for inter-agency intelligence fusion has become critical.

The Dimapur conference, according to officials, is not just a meeting of agencies but a test of India’s collective resolve to confront a crisis that is as much social and economic as it is criminal. The next few months will reveal whether the promises of stronger coordination and technological integration can translate into tangible action on the ground — and whether the country can move closer to the ambitious goal of eradicating the narcotics menace by 2047.