In News:

The annual ‘Smuggling in India - Report 2023-24’ report, which highlights DRI’s performance and experience over the last financial year as well as trends in the field of anti-smuggling and commercial fraud, will be released during the celebration.

Major Narcotics Hubs and Routes:

• Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan (The Death Crescent):
  • Primary source of heroin trafficked into India.
  • Routes via Africa, the Gulf, and India-Pakistan border.
• Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand (The Death Triangle):
  • Significant source of synthetic drugs and heroin.
  • Drugs often enter India through porous northeastern borders (e.g., Assam, Mizoram).
  • Vulnerable regions: Moreh, Churachandpur, Zokhawthar.
• Maritime Routes:
  • India’s vast coastline provides opportunities for drug trafficking, often through concealed shipping containers and fishing vessels.
• Air Routes:
  • Increased trafficking due to international air traffic.
  • Smuggled drugs often concealed in luggage, courier packages, or ingested by mules.

Major Narcotics Trends and Seizures (FY24):

• Cocaine:
  • Significant increase in trafficking, particularly from South America and Africa.
  • 47 seizures, up from 21 in the previous year.
  • Seized quantity: 107 kg.
• Methamphetamine:
  • Spiked in northeastern states like Assam and Mizoram.
  • Seized quantity in FY24: 136 kg; increased in the first half of FY25 with 123 kg.
• Hydroponic Marijuana:
  • Increasing smuggling from the US, Thailand, and other countries.
• Black Cocaine:
  • New form of cocaine coated with substances like charcoal or iron oxide to evade detection.
• Contraband Cigarettes:
  • Smuggling through sea routes, especially from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
  • Seizures increased by 19% in FY25, reaching 3.95 crore sticks.
• Illicit Gold:
  • Significant destination for gold smuggling from West Asia (UAE, Saudi Arabia).
  • Seized quantity fell slightly (1,319 kg in FY24), with land and air routes being primary methods.
• Wildlife Smuggling:
  • Seizures included 53.5 kg of elephant tusks, leopard skins, live pangolins, and more.

Challenges and Issues:

• Porous Borders:
  • Smuggling across eastern borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal remains a significant challenge.
  • Difficult terrain in these regions aids traffickers.
• Air and Sea Routes:
  • Growing use of air and maritime routes due to faster movement of goods.
• Technology and Detection:
  • Emergence of “black cocaine” challenges traditional detection methods.

Anti-Smuggling and Drug Control Efforts:

• International Cooperation:
  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) lead global efforts.
  • Paris Pact Initiative targets Afghan opiate trafficking.
• Indian Initiatives:
  • Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (1985) provides legal framework.
  • Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) work together for enforcement.
  • National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan focus on awareness and rehabilitation.

ABOUT DRI

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is the premier intelligence and enforcement agency on anti-smuggling matters under the aegis of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), Government of India.
• It came into existence on 4th December 1957.
• With its Headquarters at New Delhi, 12 Zonal Units, 35 Regional Units and 15 Sub-Regional Units, DRI has been carrying out its mandate of preventing and detecting cases of smuggling of narcotic drugs & psychotropic substances, gold, diamonds, precious metals, wildlife products, cigarettes, arms, ammunitions & explosives, counterfeit currency notes, foreign currency, SCOMET Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) items, hazardous & environmentally sensitive materials, antiques etc. and taking punitive action against the organised crime groups engaged therein.
• DRI is also engaged in unearthing commercial frauds and instances of customs duty evasion.