Illegal narcotics trade and drug abuse have been growing challenges, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), working alongside State and Union Territory Police, keeps running intelligence-led operations and preventive measures aimed at shielding young people from drugs. Here’s a rundown of the stringent steps taken under the government’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy against drug traffickers.
A roadmap and enforcement muscle
The Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029), released on 26.06.2026, lays out a three-year roadmap with clear priorities and time-bound targets for every stakeholder involved in controlling drugs, built around a ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Society’ approach.
On the ground, NCB, Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) and State Police are actively enforcing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. This combined push has translated into real numbers: drug seizures, cases registered, arrests made, seized drugs disposed of, illicit cultivation destroyed, financial investigations carried out, and preventive detentions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988.
Coordination mechanisms: NCORD and JCC
A four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism has been set up to get Central and State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, along with other stakeholders, working together better on drug trafficking and abuse across the country. To back this up, NCB has built an NCORD portal, a single access point for everything related to drug law enforcement, covering NCORD itself, training and capacity building, data on narco-offenders, legal information, and standout initiatives states have taken.
There’s also a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), chaired by the Director General of NCB, tasked with monitoring investigations into major and sensitive drug cases, including narco-terrorism cases. So far it’s held 11 meetings at the Central level and 75 at the State level.
Watching for synthetic drug threats
All State and UT Directors General of Police have been asked to sensitize beat constables, field officers and Station House Officers on Red Flag Indicators and the emerging risks tied to clandestine synthetic drug manufacturing, Mephedrone and Amphetamine-type Stimulants (ATS) in particular.
NCB also coordinates regularly with agencies like Excise, the Border Security Force (BSF) and State Anti-Narcotics Task Forces to run joint operations against trafficking networks.
Cracking down on trafficking finances
Financial investigations and proper enforcement of PITNDPS get regular attention at forums such as NCORD, JCC and Regional Conferences, all aimed at weakening and eventually dismantling organized synthetic drug trafficking networks. To support this, comprehensive guidelines have been issued on financial investigation, covering the systematic identification, tracing and attachment of proceeds of crime.
Training officers, at home and with global partners
NCB runs workshops, seminars and training programmes to build up the capacity of Drug Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies. It also regularly conducts specialized training on investigating clandestine laboratories and precursor chemical diversion, working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA), and drawing in officers from both Central Agencies and State DLEAs.
On the international front, India holds regular Director General-level and bilateral talks on drug-related issues with countries including Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and the United States. NCB has also built out international cooperation through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 19 more.
MANAS helpline and drug-free campuses
A National Narcotics Helpline, “मादक-पदार्थ निषेध आसूचना केंद्र” (MANAS), runs 24×7 as a toll-free national call centre. It’s meant to be a single, integrated platform where citizens can log, register and get help resolving drug-related issues, whether through a phone call (1933), email, the web portal or the UMANG mobile app.
Alongside this, “Mission Drug Free Campus” has been launched across educational institutions and universities nationwide, with a particular focus on sensitizing young people about why drug-free campuses matter.
Tackling drugs online: darknet and cryptocurrency
Beyond these broader measures, the government has taken up domain-specific work through NCB, using an intelligence-led, technology-driven approach to find and break up trafficking networks operating on online platforms, encrypted apps and the Darknet.
Cyber experts have been brought in to investigate darknet-enabled trafficking and cryptocurrency transactions, strengthening the technical side of enforcement. NCB has also partnered with the US-DEA and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar, to run capacity-building programmes for NCB officers and other DLEAs, covering cyber-enabled narcotics investigations, digital forensics, darknet monitoring, cryptocurrency investigations and other emerging tech used in trafficking.
The Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) takes this further, proposing dedicated Darknet and Cryptocurrency Cells within every Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), along with advanced technologies, AI-enabled analytics, research, agency capacity building and tighter inter-agency coordination to break up organized cyber-enabled trafficking networks.
Reviewing the legal framework
The NDPS Act, 1985 falls under the Department of Revenue’s administration. The government periodically reviews its provisions, factoring in court rulings, ground-level implementation experience, and gaps flagged by enforcement agencies and other stakeholders. Wherever the review points to a need, amendments get proposed, all part of an ongoing legislative process meant to keep the law effective and relevant to current challenges.
Drug-free zones around campuses
The Vision Document also pushes for Drug Free Campus zones extending 500 metres around educational institutions. It further proposes consent-based screening tests for students as part of a student wellness programme at Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions. Both ideas sit within the same three-year roadmap, which also backs preventive education, awareness campaigns, counselling and community involvement to build a safer, drug-free environment in schools and colleges.
Key Takeaway: India’s zero tolerance approach to drug trafficking combines stronger enforcement, institutional coordination, technological capabilities, international cooperation, and preventive awareness to address the evolving challenges of narcotics trafficking and drug abuse. Anchored by the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029), the strategy strengthens implementation of the NDPS Act, 1985 through mechanisms such as NCORD and the Joint Coordination Committee, while expanding intelligence-led operations, financial investigations, and action against synthetic drugs, darknet-enabled trafficking, and cryptocurrency-based networks.
Complemented by initiatives such as the 24×7 MANAS helpline, Mission Drug Free Campus, and proposals for dedicated anti-narcotics cyber cells and drug-free zones around educational institutions, these measures aim to enhance public safety, protect youth, and reinforce India’s comprehensive framework for narcotics control.
M.C.Q.
Question 1: Which Act serves as the primary legal framework for controlling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India?
- A. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
- B. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
- C. National Investigation Agency Act, 2008
- D. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
Question 2: The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) was established primarily to:
- A. Regulate pharmaceutical manufacturing in India.
- B. Coordinate Central and State agencies in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse.
- C. Monitor customs duty collection on imported medicines.
- D. Issue licences for narcotic medicines.
