Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government has launched an unrelenting campaign against drugs and narcotics trafficking, striving to achieve a "Nasha Mukt Bharat" (Drugs-Free India) by 2047. Anchored in a zero-tolerance policy, this multifaceted initiative blends robust policy measures with aggressive enforcement operations, delivering significant blows to drug networks while safeguarding the nation's youth, security, and sovereignty. A critical objective of this crusade is combating narco-terrorism, as the government recognises the dangerous nexus between drug trade and terrorist activities that threaten India's security. Guided by PM Modi's call to protect future generations and Home Minister Amit Shah's strategic oversight, this campaign has dismantled trafficking networks, curbed addiction, disrupted the financial lifelines of anti-national elements, and severed the funding channels that fuel terrorism.
The Modi government has adopted a "whole-of-government" approach, ensuring seamless coordination across agencies to tackle the drug problem comprehensively. A cornerstone of this strategy is the National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD), established in 2019 under the Ministry of Home Affairs. NCORD fosters synergy among the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, Coast Guard, state police, and other stakeholders, enabling real-time information sharing and coordinated action to disrupt both drug trafficking and its role in financing terrorism. Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasised its impact, stating, "One of the main pillars of the Government policy is the 'Whole of Government Approach' of the Modi Government, in which the coordination of different departments makes the policy more effective." This unified framework has amplified the government's ability to detect and dismantle drug networks while targeting the narco-terrorism nexus that destabilises the nation.
Complementing NCORD, the government mandated the creation of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) within state police departments to localise the fight against drugs and their links to terrorist financing. The first national conference of ANTFs in April 2023 strengthened collaboration between central and state agencies, ensuring a grassroots-level response to trafficking and narco-terrorism. Additionally, the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, launched in 2018, targets addiction through awareness campaigns, capacity building, and rehabilitation programmes. By focusing on prevention and community engagement, this plan aims to reduce drug demand, particularly among vulnerable populations susceptible to recruitment by terrorist groups funded by drug money. The MANAS helpline (1933), introduced by the NCB, further empowers citizens to report trafficking confidentially, fostering public participation in this national mission to combat both drugs and narco-terrorism.
A hallmark of the Modi government's approach is its zero-tolerance policy, which has driven unprecedented enforcement outcomes and disrupted the financial pipelines of terrorist organisations. Home Minister Amit Shah has been unequivocal in this resolve: "We have decided that we will not allow any kind of narcotics trade in India nor will we allow any drugs to be smuggled through India." This stance is reflected in the government's campaign to destroy seized narcotics, with approximately 6 lakh kg of drugs incinerated nationwide since June 2022 to prevent their recirculation and ensure they do not fund anti-national activities. These policy measures have set the stage for a series of high-impact operations that underscore the government's commitment to eradicating the drug trade and its role in narco-terrorism.
The government's enforcement efforts have yielded remarkable successes, disrupting trafficking networks, securing convictions, and choking the financial lifelines of terrorist groups across India. In 2024, a joint operation by the NCB, Indian Navy, and Gujarat Police resulted in the seizure of 3,132 kg of drugs-the largest offshore drug bust in India's history. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed this as a "historic success" and a "testament to the Modi government's unwavering commitment to making the nation drug-free and secure from narco-terrorism." This operation not only disrupted a major trafficking route but also dealt a significant blow to terrorist networks reliant on drug proceeds. Similarly, the NCB's "bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom" investigation strategy has led to significant convictions in 2025. For instance, in Ahmedabad, 23.859 kg of charas seized in 2019 resulted in 14-year sentences for three traffickers. In Bhopal, 123.080 kg of ganja led to 12-year sentences for four individuals. Across cities like Chandigarh, Cochin, Dehradun, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Jharkhand, and Lucknow, 29 traffickers were convicted in 12 cases, showcasing the rigorous enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the government's focus on dismantling narco-terrorism networks.
The Northeast, a critical entry point for drugs from the "Golden Triangle" via the India-Myanmar border, has seen intensified operations, particularly in states like Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. These efforts target not only drug smuggling but also its role in funding insurgent and terrorist groups. In Assam alone, drugs worth ₹1,050 crore were seized in the last one and a half years, significantly curbing smuggling and disrupting funding to insurgency groups reliant on drug money. Between 2014 and 2022, the government seized narcotics worth ₹22,000 crore-a 30-fold increase compared to ₹768 crore during the UPA government's tenure (2006-2013). Registered cases against drug peddlers also surged by 181% in the same period, reflecting the scale of enforcement under Modi's leadership and the government's commitment to breaking the narco-terrorism cycle.
PM Modi has consistently highlighted the broader implications of this fight, emphasising its link to national security, societal wellbeing, and the battle against narco-terrorism. He has stated, "Drugs bring with it darkness, destruction and devastation. Every such effort to #SaveLives is vital. Addiction is neither cool nor a style statement." PM Modi has also underscored the nexus between narcotics and terrorism, noting, "Narcotics trade is one of the biggest sources of income for terrorists and anti-national elements, and the money sourced by these elements through drugs trade is used to destabilise the nation." By targeting this nexus, the government aims to weaken terrorist organisations that rely on drug trafficking to fund arms procurement, recruitment, and subversive activities. This perspective has driven the government's holistic approach, combining enforcement with rehabilitation to protect India's youth from addiction and recruitment into terrorist networks, ensuring a secure future for the nation.
The Modi government's war on drugs is a testament to its resolve to create a safer, healthier, and more secure India. Through initiatives like NCORD, ANTFs, and the National Action Plan, coupled with landmark operations like the 2024 offshore seizure and convictions across the country, the government has struck at the heart of the drug trade and its role in fuelling narco-terrorism. As Home Minister Amit Shah has affirmed, a drugs-free Bharat is "the greatest gift to the future generations." With sustained efforts, public participation, and unwavering focus, India is steadily advancing toward PM Modi's vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047-a legacy that will safeguard the nation's youth, security, and wellbeing for generations to come.
(Tuhin A. Sinha is a National Spokesperson of BJP, besides being an author.)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
