India for real-time BRICS intelligence network to tackle drug syndicates

The two-day meeting has brought together heads of anti-narcotics agencies from BRICS countries to deliberate on emerging challenges posed by transnational drug trafficking and substance abuse, with the focus on strengthening operational cooperation and collective action against the global drug menace.

Addressing the inaugural session, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Anurag Garg urged BRICS drug law enforcement agencies to forge a partnership built on speed, trust and seamless real-time intelligence sharing that transcends borders, enabling swift action against international drug syndicates.

Emphasising India’s commitment to combating narcotics, Garg highlighted the country’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

He also outlined India’s three-year roadmap (2026-2029), based on a network-centric enforcement strategy that seeks to dismantle entire criminal networks, prevent drug abuse through mass awareness campaigns and strengthen treatment, de-addiction and rehabilitation measures.

As part of its proposals, India called for institutionalising real-time intelligence exchange among BRICS members through the proposed virtual working group.

The mechanism, it said, would jointly analyse emerging trafficking patterns, coordinate enforcement operations and develop a future-ready framework to tackle evolving drug threats.

The meeting is expected to conclude on Tuesday with discussions on enhancing cooperation among BRICS nations in addressing the growing challenge of narcotics trafficking and substance abuse through coordinated law enforcement initiatives.