Drug-laden Pak drones significant threat to India's internal security: NCB report

A "sharp" spike has been seen in the sightings and recovery of drugs-laden drones coming into India from Pakistan across the international border in Punjab over the last four years posing a "significant" threat to the country's internal security, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Anti-narcotics agencies have also witnessed a six-time increase in the seizure of synthetic drugs from 2019-24, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said in its annual report for 2024.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the report during the 2nd national conference of heads of anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) of various states and UTs that he inaugurated on Tuesday.

The NCB is a federal anti-narcotics agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"The use of drones for cross-border smuggling of narcotics has emerged as a significant threat to India's internal security, particularly along the Pakistan border in Punjab.

"This evolving modus operandi has replaced traditional smuggling methods and poses a complex challenge for law enforcement and border security agencies," the report, accessed by PTI, said.

It added that there has been a "sharp" increase in drone sightings and recoveries of narcotics in border districts of the state like Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.

In 2024, the number of such seizures "rose manifold" reaching 179 cases as compared to just three cases in 2021. The recovered drug consignments largely included heroin and opium, the report said.

Out of the 179 cases of drug trafficking through drones along the India-Pakistan border reported last year, 163 took place in Punjab, 15 along the same front in Rajasthan and one in Jammu and Kashmir.

The total drug recovery was about 236 kg, according to the report.

The report said a "significant" trend was noticed with the seizure of six-time higher synthetic drugs over the last six years (2019-24) in the country. These drugs included ATS (amphetamine type stimulants), MDMA, mephedrone and methaqualone abused mainly by youngsters.

"In 2024, about 11,994 kg of synthetic drugs were seized compared to just 1,890 kg in 2019. This sharp rise is primarily driven by the high profitability and increasing market demand for these substances," said the report that compiles all-India figures on narcotics.

The seizure of synthetic drugs in the country during 2020 stood at 1,989 kg, 657 kg in 2021, 4,216 kg in 2022 and 4,209 kg in 2023.

The report also expressed concern over the "dramatic" increase in drugs seized from the maritime front since 2020.

In 2024, seizures from the sea amounted to 10,564 kg witnessing a nearly 500-fold surge as compared to 2019, it said.