India's Intensified War Against Drug Trafficking
In a significant breakthrough against transnational drug syndicates, Indian authorities have successfully concluded Operation Crystal Fortress, marking one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Delhi's history. This four-month-long intensive operation demonstrates India's strengthened resolve to combat the growing menace of drug trafficking that threatens national security and public health.
Operation Crystal Fortress: The Major Methamphetamine Bust
The recently concluded Operation Crystal Fortress resulted in the arrest of two key drug peddlers identified as Shane Warris (25) from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, and Esther Kimmi (43) from Dimapur, Nagaland. The operation derived its name from "Crystal" referring to methamphetamine and "fortress" symbolizing the secured hiding place of the contraband.
This sophisticated transnational racket, operated from Dubai, was dismantled through coordinated efforts between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi Police's Special Cell (Counter Intelligence) unit, and Nagaland Police. Methamphetamine, commonly known as the "Ice" drug due to its white, crystal-like appearance, has seen rising demand, particularly at rave parties and among youth circles.
India's Multi-Pronged Anti-Drug Operations
Operation MED MAX, conducted in July 2025, represented one of the most extensive crackdowns on illegal pharmaceutical drug trade. Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally congratulated the NCB and participating agencies for dismantling a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking syndicate that employed encrypted digital platforms, drop shipping models, and cryptocurrency transactions to smuggle controlled medicines across four continents.
In another significant development, Delhi Police busted an international drug cartel operating across India, Thailand, and the UAE, seizing 21 kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at approximately Rs 27.24 crore. Hydroponic marijuana, often called ocean-grown weed, represents a more potent and expensive variant of cannabis cultivated using advanced agricultural techniques.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched Operation WeedOut, a pan-India initiative aimed at dismantling syndicates involved in smuggling hydroponic weed into the country. As the premier intelligence and enforcement agency under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance, DRI plays a crucial role in detecting and curbing smuggling of contraband, including drug trafficking.
Maritime Security: Operation Samudragupt
Launched in January 2022, Operation Samudragupt represents a joint initiative by the Indian Navy and NCB to combat drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This strategic operation has yielded remarkable results, including the 2023 seizure of 2,525 kg of high-purity methamphetamine off the coast of Kochi, with an estimated market value of Rs 25,000 crore.
The seized methamphetamine originated from the Death Crescent Region, comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. The NCB has been sharing real-time actionable intelligence on drug smuggling with IOR countries, enhancing regional cooperation against this transnational threat.
In June 2022, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) initiated Operation NARCOS, a special drive targeting drug smuggling through railway networks. The RPF intensified checks in trains and identified black spots across the country in coordination with NCB to target drug peddlers exploiting rail transport for illegal trade.
India's Strategic Position Against Drug Cartels
India finds itself geographically sandwiched between two major drug production regions: the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos). These regions collectively meet nearly 90% of global demand for heroin and methamphetamine, making India both a significant market and transit route for international drug trafficking.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security' in 2023, emphasized India's firm stance by proposing that these regions be renamed as "Death Triangle" and "Death Crescent," reflecting the government's determination to combat this menace with unprecedented intensity.
World Drug Report 2025: Alarming Global Trends
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released the World Drug Report 2025, titled "Global instability compounding social, economic and security costs of the world drug problem." The report reveals that 316 million people used illicit drugs in 2023, representing 6% of the global population aged 15-64, compared to 5.2% in 2013.
Cannabis emerged as the most widely used drug with 244 million users globally, followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million), and ecstasy (21 million). The report warns that vulnerable populations fleeing hardship, instability, and conflict could further escalate these numbers.
Region-specific data highlights that Asia accounts for the largest number of people who inject drugs worldwide (5.2 million in 2022), with significant numbers living with HIV (615,000) and hepatitis C (2.8 million). The gender gap in cannabis use in Asia is the largest globally, with 90 out of every 100 cannabis users being men.
The report also notes a dramatic shift in opium production patterns, stating that "the implementation of the April 2022 ban on opium production in Afghanistan has led to a dramatic decline in cultivation and production, making Myanmar the world's largest producer of the substance."
International Day Against Drug Abuse 2025
Established on December 7, 1987, by the General Assembly, June 26 is observed as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day. The 2025 theme, "Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime," emphasizes the importance of sustained, focused action to disrupt organized crime networks and drug trafficking operations.
The World Drug Report 2025 underscores the severe consequences of failing to address drug use disorders, reporting nearly half a million deaths and 28 million healthy years of life lost due to disability and premature deaths in 2021. Alarmingly, only one in twelve people with drug use disorders received any form of treatment in 2023.
India's comprehensive approach, combining intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, and international cooperation, demonstrates the nation's commitment to creating a drug-free society while addressing the complex challenges outlined in global drug assessments.
