Narcotics worth approximately Rs 25,330 crore were seized in India in the year 2024, as per an official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. As per the statement, this figure is more than 55% higher as compared to the Rs 16,100 crore worth of drugs seized in 2023. The central Government has been implementing zero-tolerance policy against drugs in order to create a drug-free India.
Extremely harmful and addictive synthetic drugs, cocaine, and pharmaceutical drugs, which are used as psychotropic substances, which are also of much higher value have been seized in 2024.
“In 2024, the quantity of ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants) like Methamphetamine has more than doubled from 34 quintals in 2023 to 80 quintals in 2024. Similarly quantity of cocaine seized has also gone up from 292 Kgs in 2023 to 1426 Kgs in 2024.The quantity of seized Mephedrone has also gone up from 688 kgs in 2023 in comparison to 3391 kgs in 2024. Likewise, quantity of Hashish seized has gone up from 34 Quintal in 2023 to 61 Quintal in 2024.The quantity of pharmaceutical drugs which are increasingly being abused as psychotropic substances has gone up from 1.84 crore to 4.69 crore in number (Tablets),” reveals the official statement from Home Ministry.
Major operations by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Following are some of the major operations conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in collaboration with various agencies in 2024:
In February, the NCB and Special Cell of Delhi Police busted an international drugs trafficking network with the support of Australian and New Zealand authorities, which led to the arrest of three people and seizure of 50 kg narcotics-making chemical Pseudoephedrine.
In February, in a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-1’, carried out by NCB, Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a gigantic consignment of approximate 3300 kg of drugs (3110 Kg Charas/Hashish, 158.3 Kg crystalline powder Meth and 24.6 Kg Suspected Heroin) was seized in the Indian Ocean. Five suspected foreign nationals were detained in this case.
In March, NCB arrested Jaffer Sadiq, the kingpin of the drug trafficking network busted by it in the month of February, 2024. Jaffer Sadiq was absconding and on the run since 15th February, 2024 when NCB seized 50.070 kg of Pseudoephedrine from the godown of a firm and arrested three of his accomplices.
In April, in a joint maritime operation by NCB, ATS of Gujarat Police and Indian Coast Guard, Heroin was seized and 14 Pakistani nationals were arrested from a foreign boat carrying approximately 86 kgs. Drugs worth about Rs 602 Crore were seized during the operation.
In October, NCB conducted a search operation in a factory in Kasna Industrial Area of district Gautam Budh Nagar and found about 95 kg of Methamphetamine in solid and liquid forms. Chemicals like Acetone, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylene Chloride, Premium grade Ethanol, Toluene, Red phosphorus, Ethyl Acetate etc and imported machinery for manufacturing were also found.
In November, the Narcotics Control Bureau recovered one of the biggest haul of Cocaine at Delhi and 82.53 Kg of high grade Cocaine was recovered from Janakpuri and Nangloi areas.
In November, in a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-4’, the NCB, Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized approx. 700 kg of contraband Meth in Gujarat.