Combating Synthetic Drug Trafficking in India

rawan239

2 weeks ago

Surge in Synthetic Drug Trafficking: India faces a growing problem with synthetic drugs, prompting responses like Haryana’s Anti-Synthetic Narcotics Task Force.
Synthetic Drug Definition: Lab-created drugs using precursor chemicals, unlike plant-based narcotics. Examples include amphetamines and ecstasy.
Concerns:
- Rapid Innovation: New psychoactive substances (NPS) circumvent the NDPS Act.
- Ease of Production: Small, hidden labs use easily available precursors.
- Detection Difficulty: Disguised in legitimate shipments, bypassing traditional methods.
- Dark Net Usage: Traffickers use cryptocurrencies and blockchain, complicating tracking.
- High Potency: Drugs like fentanyl cause fatal overdoses and mass addiction.
Global Influence: India’s location between the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle and API production exacerbate the problem. Online forums aid synthesis.
Reforms Needed:
- Legislative Modernization: Amend NDPS Act for generic scheduling and fast-track NPS classification.
- National Precursor Control Network: Real-time tracking of precursor chemicals with AI alerts.
- Digital Surveillance: Use blockchain forensics to trace cryptocurrency payments.
- International Coordination: Leverage UN conventions and collaborate with INTERPOL.
- Health and Awareness: Expand de-addiction infrastructure (NAPDDR) and targeted awareness campaigns (NMBA).
Why Harder to Regulate: Synthetic drugs are harder to regulate because of rapid innovation, the ease of production in small labs, their high potency leading to fatality, and are usually trafficked in disguise, using dark net, etc.