**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 372 regarding the production and trade of illegal drugs, specifically Mephedrone, in India. It outlines the steps taken by the Government of India to prevent illegal drug production and trade, details the number of production centers exposed, the quantity of drugs seized, and the number of arrests made between 2020 and 2024. The document also specifies ongoing measures to stop the operation of such illegal centers.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Government Commitment and Agencies Involved:**
* The Government of India is committed to preventing the illegal production, trade, and abuse of drugs.
* Various central and state agencies are empowered under the NDPS Act 1985 to control narcotics and psychotropic substances.
* The government promotes the use of legitimate substances under NDPS for medical and scientific purposes while preventing diversion and misuse.
* **Coordination and Enforcement Mechanisms:**
* A four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) facilitates coordination among central and state agencies.
* Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) have been established in all States/UTs, serving as NCORD secretariats.
* A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) oversees significant drug seizure investigations.
* A task force monitors Darknet and Cryptocurrency platforms facilitating narco-trafficking.
* Border Guarding Forces and Railway Protection Force are empowered for enforcement at borders and rail routes.
* NCB collaborates with other agencies for joint anti-drug operations.
* Electronic scanning of consignments at ports is being implemented.
* NCB regularly trains officers of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) to enhance capacity building.
* **Support and Resources:**
* Financial assistance is provided to eligible States/UTs for strengthening their anti-narcotics units.
* The National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN) portal supports investigations.
* Madak Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra (MANAS), a 24x7 toll-free helpline (1933), is established to report drug-related issues.
* Increased international cooperation facilitates information exchange and investigative assistance.
* **Data on Illegal Drug Production Centers:**
* The number of clandestine Mephedrone laboratories busted from 2020-2024 are as follows: 2020 (1), 2021 (1), 2022 (5), 2023 (2), 2024 (6).
* Total clandestine laboratories busted from 2020-2024 are as follows: 2020 (5), 2021 (9), 2022 (10), 2023 (8), 2024 (9).
* The quantity of drugs seized and the number of persons arrested from 2020-2024 are as follows: 2020 (1616 kg, 9 arrests), 2021 (2002 kg, 27 arrests), 2022 (2732 kg, 40 arrests), 2023 (561 kg, 37 arrests), 2024 (1698 kg, 40 arrests).
* **Measures to Stop Illegal Drug Production:**
* Intelligence gathering and sharing have been intensified to target networks involved in the illicit manufacture, trafficking, and distribution of synthetic drugs.
* Clandestine laboratories engaged in the manufacture of Mephedrone are being proactively identified and dismantled.
* Financial investigations are being conducted against drug traffickers under the NDPS Act.
* Red Flag Indicators (RFI) for sensitizing field officers regarding clandestine laboratories have been shared with States/UTs.
* A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been shared with the DGsP of all States and Union Territories to address issues related to Precursor Chemical trafficking.
* NCB, in collaboration with DEA (USA), is conducting training programs for all DLEAs on Clandestine Laboratories and Precursor Chemical Diversion.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Agencies (Narcotics Control Bureau, Customs, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Border Guarding Forces):**
* *Impact:* Increased responsibility for coordinating efforts, conducting investigations, and enforcing the NDPS Act.
* *Action Required:* Enhance intelligence gathering, participate in joint operations, implement electronic scanning at ports, and train officers.
**State Agencies (State Police, Excise, Forest Department, Anti-Narcotics Task Forces):**
* *Impact:* Increased responsibility for local enforcement, intelligence sharing, and coordination with central agencies.
* *Action Required:* Participate in NCORD meetings, establish and maintain ANTFs, conduct local anti-drug operations, and share intelligence.
**Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs):**
* *Impact:* Enhanced capacity building through training programs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs conducted by NCB and DEA, implement SOPs, and utilize Red Flag Indicators.
**States and Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Need to strengthen anti-narcotics units and participate in national efforts.
* *Action Required:* Establish ANTFs, utilize financial assistance to strengthen units, implement SOPs, and share information.
Key Entities Referenced
Anti-Narcotics Task Force: Established in all States and Union Territories of India, serving as NCORD secretariat for local enforcement.
Mephedrone: An illegal synthetic drug, the production and trade of which is the subject of the policy.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: Indian legislation empowering various agencies to control narcotics and psychotropic substances.
Narcotics Control Bureau: A Central Agency in India responsible for combating drug trafficking.
Narco-Coordination Centre: A 4-tier coordination mechanism among Central and State agencies to combat drug trafficking.
National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders: A portal launched to support investigations and proactive policing related to drug offenses in India.
Assistance to States/UTs: A scheme providing financial assistance to eligible States and Union Territories in India for strengthening their antinarcotics units.
United States of America: Country collaborating with NCB through Drug Enforcement Agency for training programs on Clandestine Laboratories and Precursor Chemical Diversion.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.*372
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 28, 1947 (SAKA)
PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS
†*372. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to prevent the illegal production
and trade of drugs like Mephedrone:
(b) the number of production centres of the said drug exposed by law
enforcement agencies in recent years;
(c) the quantum of Mephedrone and other drugs seized from such illegal
drug production centres along with the number of persons arrested in this
regard; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to stop the operation of such
illegal drug production centres?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.-2-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *372 FOR 19.08.2025
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-*372
FOR 19.08.2025 REGARDING PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF ILLEGAL
DRUGS
(a) The Government of India is committed to prevent the illegal
production and trade of drugs and its abuse. Various Central Agencies
such as Narcotics Control Bureau, Customs, Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, Border Guarding Forces [Border Security Force (BSF), Assam
Rifles, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) etc] and State Agencies (State Police/
Excise/ Forest Department) have been empowered under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act- 1985 to have strict
control over the movement of Narcotics and Psychotropic substances.
The policy of the Government has been to promote the use of legitimate
substances under NDPS for medical and scientific purposes and to
prevent their diversion and illegal smuggling and misuse. In this regard,
Government has taken various steps to prevent the illegal production and
trade of drugs, some of which are mentioned below: -
(i) Constituted a 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism
which enables coordination among Central and State agencies.
(ii) Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has been established in all
States/UTs, which also serves as NCORD secretariat for local
enforcement.-3-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *372 FOR 19.08.2025
(iii) A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has been set up under the
Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to oversee
significant drug seizure investigations.
(iv) A task force on Darknet and Crypto-Currency has been set up under
the MAC mechanism with a focus on monitoring all platforms
facilitating Narco-trafficking, sharing of inputs on drug trafficking
amongst Agencies/MAC members, interception of drug networks,
continuous capturing of trends, modus operandi & nodes with
regular database updates and review of related rules & laws.
(v) Border Guarding Forces and Railway Protection Force are
empowered under the NDPS Act for enforcement at borders and rail
routes.
(vi) NCB collaborates with other agencies like Navy, Coast Guard,
Border Security Force, and State ANTFs to carry out joint anti-drug
operations.
(vii) Electronic scanning of consignments at ports is being implemented
to detect drugs.
(viii) To enhance the capacity building, NCB regularly trains officers of
Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs).-4-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *372 FOR 19.08.2025
(ix) Financial assistance is being provided to eligible States for
strengthening their anti-narcotics units under the scheme
“Assistance to States & UTs”.
(x) National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders
(NIDAAN) portal has been launched to support investigations and
proactive policing.
(xi) Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra (MANAS)- A 24x7 toll-free
helpline (1933) has been established to report drug-related issues
via calls, SMS, chatbot, email, or web.
(xii) Effort towards increased international cooperation for exchange of
information and investigative assistance in administering control
over the movement of Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances
and Precursor Chemicals is being regularly made.
(b) The number of clandestine laboratories busted by all Drug Law
Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) across the country as reported to
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during last five years (2020 to 2024) are
as under: --5-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *372 FOR 19.08.2025
Year Total Clandestine Mephedrone
Laboratories Busted (all Laboratories
Drugs) by all DLEAs in Busted
India
2020 5 1
2021 9 1
2022 10 5
2023 8 2
2024 9 6
Source: NCB
(c) The quantum of drugs (including Mephedrone) seized from such
illegal drug production centres along with the number of persons arrested
during last five years (2020 to 2024) are as under: -
Year Quantity seized (in No. of persons
Kg) arrested
2020 1616 9
2021 2002 27
2022 2732 40
2023 561 37
2024 1698 40
Source: NCB
(d) Government has taken various steps to stop the operation of such
illegal drug production centres, some of which are mentioned below: -
(i) Intelligence gathering and sharing mechanisms to identify and
target networks involved in the illicit manufacture, trafficking, and
distribution of synthetic drugs like Mephedrone has been intensified.-6-
L.S.S.Q.NO. *372 FOR 19.08.2025
(ii) Clandestine laboratories engaged in the manufacture of Mephedrone
are being proactively identified and dismantled through coordinated
operations.
(iii) Financial investigations are being conducted against drug
traffickers under Chapter V-A of the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
(iv) Red Flag Indicators (RFI) for sensitisation of field officers regarding
clandestine laboratories involved in manufacturing of Synthetic
Drugs including Mephedrone was shared by NCB with States/Union
Territories.
(v) A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been shared by the
Ministry of Home Affairs with the Director Generals of Police (DGsP)
of all States and Union Territories to address the issues relating to
Precursor Chemical trafficking including red flag indicators,
clandestine laboratories and diversion of Controlled Substances and
Precursors.
(vi) NCB in collaboration with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), United
States of America (USA) is conducting training programmes for all
DLEAs on “Clandestine Laboratories and Precursor Chemical
Diversion”.
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