Modi government relaunches fight against drugs: plans from every administration by March

Interior Minister Amit Shah touts data on the increase in drug seizures. But the number of consumers has also grown, including among the very young: it is estimated that over 25% of minors use drugs. The issue of chemicals produced in India and destined for laboratories producing methamphetamine in Myanmar, but also in Central America and Africa

Delhi (AsiaNews) - At the beginning of 2026, India relaunches the fight against drugs. On January 9, Home Minister Amit Shah announced a national campaign to combat consumption, trafficking, and narco-terrorism. By the end of March, central and state administrations will have to present a three-year plan with clear objectives, defined deadlines, and systematic checks.

The announcement came during the ninth summit meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD), the mechanism that has been coordinating ministries, agencies, and local governments since 2016.

Shah stressed the urgency of “fighting on all fronts” to protect young people, the main target of drug trafficking, with the aim of dismantling criminal networks, logistics routes, and financial channels.

The ruling government—led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in office since 2014—claims to have achieved significant results in these eleven years.

It boasts figures on drug seizures: between 2004 and 2013, the total value was around €4.4 billion, while between 2014 and 2025, it rose to around €19 billion. The action has focused mainly on synthetic drugs and illegal opium cultivation.

India is in fact the only country that produces opium gum for medical, scientific, and export purposes, according to the 1961 Convention; however, part of the legal harvest is diverted to illicit channels and converted into heroin, most of which is consumed in the country.

The situation is further complicated by the country's geographical position. India is located between the two main areas of illegal opium production in the world: the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand).

In this context, the country becomes both a destination and a transit route for opiates from these areas, influencing the dynamics of trafficking in the subcontinent.

According to official estimates, opioid users rose from 3.3 million in 2004 to 23 million in 2018, with an increase in heroin, crystal meth, synthetic drugs, and hydroponic marijuana in recent years. The growth of domestic methamphetamine laboratories and the 6.6 million users in Punjab, including approximately 697,000 minors, point to an emergency that also affects children and adolescents. It is estimated that between 25 and 29% of minors in India use drugs.

In addition to domestic consumption, India is an important hub for international trafficking. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the country supplies chemicals to methamphetamine laboratories in Myanmar and further afield, such as Central America and Africa. In 2024, laboratories run by foreigners and linked to Mexican cartels were discovered in Greater Noida, near New Delhi.

To address these internal and external challenges, during the NCORD meeting, the Minister of Home Affairs emphasized the decisive role of information and awareness-raising, aiming to build a stable, non-emergency system based on prevention and education.

A “humanitarian” approach is planned for those who are addicted, with treatment and rehabilitation programs. Another key point is the fight against narco-terrorism, defined as a strategy aimed at weakening the younger generation. The challenge, Shah explained, is not only one of health or public order, but also of national security.

The campaign is part of the long-term goals set by Prime Minister Modi for 2047, the centenary of independence from British rule: an India that is a leader in all sectors, with young people protected from addiction and ready to contribute to the country's development.