Massive Crackdown Disrupts International Drug Syndicates And Darknet Networks
India’s battle against narcotics reached a historic milestone as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) released its annual performance report. The NCB drug seizure 2025 figures reveal an unprecedented haul of 1,33,965 kilograms of illegal drugs, with an estimated market value of nearly Rs 2,000 crore. This massive recovery highlights a year of aggressive enforcement and strategic operations aimed at dismantling organized crime networks both within the country and across international borders.
Throughout 2025, the bureau maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward drug peddling. This resulted in the arrest of 994 traffickers, including 25 foreign nationals, across 447 distinct cases. The legal department saw significant success as well, securing convictions for 265 offenders. Notably, 39 individuals received the maximum 20-year sentence, reflecting the severity with which the Indian judiciary is treating drug-related crimes. By institutionalizing a robust trial monitoring system, the NCB successfully boosted its conviction rate to 66.8 percent, a sharp rise from the previous year.
The NCB drug seizure 2025 success was driven by several high-profile special operations. "Operation Crystal Fortress" saw the recovery of 328 kilograms of premium methamphetamine in the national capital. Meanwhile, "Operation Ketamelon" targeted the digital frontier, successfully busting one of India’s largest darknet drug syndicates. This operation led to the seizure of LSD blots, ketamine, and cryptocurrency worth Rs 70 lakhs.
Furthermore, "Operation Med Max" dismantled a pharmaceutical trafficking network that spanned four continents. This investigation exposed how India-based networks used encrypted platforms and drop-shipping models to supply controlled medicines to the US, Europe, and Australia. In Mumbai, authorities even intercepted cocaine hidden inside a projector destined for Australia, eventually leading to the deportation of a major international kingpin.
The agency didn't just stop at individual seizures; it moved to strike the financial roots of the drug trade. Under the PIT-NDPS Act, assets worth over Rs 96 crore were frozen across 70 cases. Additionally, the bureau raided and shut down six secret drug laboratories in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. These facilities were manufacturing synthetic drugs like mephedrone and ketamine, which are increasingly posing a threat to the youth.
India’s global footprint in drug enforcement grew stronger in 2025. Working with Interpol, the NCB issued 37 notices and successfully deported five absconding accused from the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Nationally, the focus remained on regional cooperation, particularly through conferences addressing the specific challenges of the North-Eastern states and West Bengal.
Public engagement reached new heights through the MANAS helpline (1933). This citizen-supported platform received over 1.19 lakh interactions, leading directly to 110 new cases and multiple arrests. Awareness campaigns like "Nasha Mukt Bharat Pakhwada" and the "Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs" e-pledge have sensitized millions of citizens. With MoUs signed with CBSE and forensic universities, the NCB is ensuring that the next generation is educated about the dangers of substance abuse. This comprehensive strategy brings India one step closer to the ultimate goal of being drug-free by 2047.
