NCB Annual Report 2025: Drug Arrests Hit Five-Year High as India Unveils Vision Document 2026–2029

India's fight against narcotics has entered a new phase with the release of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Annual Report 2025 and the Vision Document on Drug Control 2026–2029. The documents were unveiled by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah during the 10th NCORD Apex Meeting.

The report highlights a sharp rise in anti-drug enforcement, emerging threats from synthetic opioids, increasing use of encrypted messaging apps by traffickers, and India's strategy to tackle drug trafficking over the next three years.

NCB Annual Report 2025: Key Highlights

Record Number of Drug-Related Arrests

According to the NCB Annual Report 2025, India recorded its highest number of narcotics-related arrests in the last five years.

• 2025 Arrests: 1,83,675

• 2024 Arrests: 1,22,224

The report also noted a substantial increase in preventive detention orders.

• 2025 Detention Orders: 810

• 2024 Detention Orders: 531

These figures represent the highest enforcement activity recorded between 2021 and 2025.

Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal Used for Drug Trafficking

The report states that encrypted messaging applications have become major communication channels for drug traffickers worldwide, including in India.

Among these platforms:

• Telegram has emerged as the primary platform for drug-related advertisements.

• WhatsApp continues to be used for communication.

• Signal is also being used by trafficking networks.

The NCB warned that encrypted digital platforms are increasingly being exploited to facilitate illegal narcotics trade.

Myanmar Replaces Afghanistan as Leading Source of Illicit Opium

One of the report's most significant findings is the shift in global illicit opium production.

According to the NCB:

• Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan as the world's leading source of illicit opium.

• The change has been attributed to the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

• Continued conflict and economic instability in Myanmar have contributed to increased cultivation.

The report also identified the trafficking corridor from Myanmar into India's Northeast as a major national security concern due to its links with:

• Arms smuggling

• Terror financing

• Organised criminal networks

Crackdown on Illegal Poppy and Cannabis Cultivation

The report recorded significant action against illegal cultivation across the country.

Poppy Cultivation Destroyed

• 2025: 42,282 acres

• 2024: 22,512 acres

Cannabis Cultivation Destroyed

• 2025: 38,193 acres

• 2024: 34,018 acres

The increase reflects intensified enforcement efforts by central and state agencies.

Synthetic Drugs Continue to Expand Globally

The report highlighted the growing threat posed by synthetic narcotics.

According to the findings:

• Amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for nearly half of all synthetic drug seizures globally in 2023.

• Methamphetamine and amphetamine remain the most commonly seized synthetic drugs.

Major production hubs include:

• Mexico

• Myanmar

• Afghanistan

• Czechia

• Netherlands

The report also noted expanding trafficking routes across Europe, Africa, and the Near and Middle East.

India-Myanmar Border Remains a Major Concern

The NCB described the India-Myanmar border as a vulnerable trafficking route.

According to the report, the porous border and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) facilitate:

• Drug trafficking

• Local addiction

• Funding of insurgent groups

The report called the corridor one of India's major internal security challenges.

Emerging Threats Identified by NCB

The Annual Report identified two rapidly emerging dangers.

Nitazenes

Nitazenes are synthetic opioids reportedly up to 500 times more potent than heroin, posing a significant public health risk.

Drug Trafficking and Organised Violence

The report warned that drug trafficking is increasingly linked with:

• Organised crime

• Cross-border terrorism

• Violence in transit economies

Vision Document on Drug Control 2026–2029

Alongside the Annual Report, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Vision Document on Drug Control 2026–2029.

Prepared to achieve the objective of Nasha Mukt Bharat on the path toward Viksit Bharat 2047, the roadmap is built on four strategic pillars.

Four Pillars of the Vision Document

1. Enforcement, Intelligence and Operations

Targeted intelligence-based action to dismantle trafficking networks.

2. Precursor and Synthetic Drug Control

Preventing drug production by controlling precursor chemicals and synthetic narcotics.

3. Demand and Harm Reduction

Reducing drug demand through awareness campaigns, education and rehabilitation programmes.

4. Capacity Building, Coordination and Monitoring

Strengthening institutions through better coordination, accountability and modern enforcement systems.

Operational Doctrine: Detect, Disrupt and Destroy

The Vision Document adopts a three-step operational strategy.

Detect

• Human intelligence (HUMINT)

• Technical intelligence

• Community policing

• Monitoring of darknet activities

• Tracking hawala and cryptocurrency transactions

Disrupt

• Destroy trafficking routes

• Target financial networks

• Eliminate illegal cultivation

• Identify clandestine laboratories

Destroy

The strategy aims to permanently dismantle drug syndicates while simultaneously reducing demand through rehabilitation.

Speaking at the launch, Amit Shah said:

"Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we will strike the entire drug trade ecosystem so decisively over the next three years that it will not be able to recover for decades."

Nationwide Drug Destruction Campaign

The Home Minister also launched an Online Drugs Disposal Fortnight.

Key figures include:

• ₹6,000 crore worth of seized narcotics targeted for destruction.

• 2,09,500 kilograms of seized drugs scheduled for disposal nationwide.

India Between the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle

Amit Shah stated that India's geographical location places it between two of the world's biggest narcotics trafficking regions.

Golden Crescent

The Golden Crescent comprises:

• Afghanistan

• Pakistan

• Iran

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle includes:

• Myanmar

• Thailand

• Laos

The Union Government has proposed internationally that these regions should be referred to as the Death Crescent and Death Triangle, reflecting the devastating impact of narcotics.

Demand Reduction Measures

The Vision Document also focuses on reducing addiction through community participation.

Major initiatives include:

• Drug-Free Zones

• Drug-Free Campus Framework

• Awareness campaigns involving parents and teachers

• Appointment of nodal officers in every state for treatment and rehabilitation

The Home Minister emphasized that while traffickers must face strict action, young people affected by addiction should receive support and rehabilitation.

World Drug Report 2025: Key Findings

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the World Drug Report 2025, highlighting global drug consumption trends.

Major findings include:

• 316 million people used drugs (excluding alcohol and tobacco) in 2023.

• This represents 6% of the global population aged 15–64, compared to 5.2% in 2013.

Most Used Drugs Globally

• Cannabis – 244 million users

• Opioids – 61 million

• Amphetamines – 30.7 million

• Cocaine – 25 million

• Ecstasy – 21 million

The report estimated:

• Nearly 500,000 deaths linked to drug use disorders.

• 28 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost in 2021.

• Only 1 in 12 people suffering from drug use disorders received treatment in 2023.

Asia-Specific Findings

The World Drug Report highlighted several regional concerns.

• Asia has the world's largest gender gap in cannabis use.

• Around 90% of cannabis users in Asia are men.

• Asia accounts for:

  • 5.2 million people who inject drugs.

  • 615,000 injecting drug users living with HIV.

  • 2.8 million living with Hepatitis C.

Major Anti-Drug Operations in India

Several major enforcement operations have strengthened India's anti-drug efforts.

Operation Crystal Fortress

Targeted methamphetamine trafficking networks.

Operation WeedOut

Launched by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to dismantle hydroponic weed smuggling syndicates.

Operation Samudragupt

A joint initiative of the Indian Navy and NCB launched in January 2022 to combat drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region.

Operation NARCOS

Launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in June 2022 to curb narcotics smuggling through railway networks.