'Drug cartels don't respect borders': India proposes virtual BRICS task force on narcotics

India has proposed a dedicated virtual task force to look into evolving trends in narcotics trafficking at a two-day meeting of top drug agencies from BRICS member countries here.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg while inaugurating the meeting said that the advent of modern methods of drug trafficking has turned the drug menace into a global threat.

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“The emergence of modern, highly sophisticated human trafficking methods has turned what was once a localized problem into a hyper-connected global threat,” he said.

The two-day meeting, which ended on Tuesday, focused on three priority areas – combating synthetic drugs and precursor abuse, strengthening intelligence sharing and operational coordination, and capacity building and institutional cooperation.

BRICS Virtual Working Group

Garg emphasized the role of BRICS in addressing this challenge: “I propose the establishment of a dedicated virtual BRICS task force to address these rapidly evolving trends.”

“This mechanism would serve as an essential platform for regular meetings, real-time intelligence exchange, analysis of changing trading patterns and seamless coordination of joint law enforcement operations,” he added.

Garg also emphasized the need to build the capacity of frontline officers through dedicated cross-border training initiatives and continuous sharing of best practices among member agencies.

“Together, as the extended BRICS family, we have the collective power to truly change the world and make the vision of a drug-free society a reality,” added the NCB CEO, highlighting the bloc’s expansion to become one of the largest and most influential collaborations at the global level.

He also thanked delegations for their contributions to the recent 8th meeting of the BRICS Anti-Drug Task Force, saying: “The consensus and strategic clarity achieved last month have provided us with a solid framework to move forward in our high-level talks over the next two days.”

Warning that today’s world faces an aggressive narcotics landscape, Garg said: “The reality of the 21st century drug trade is harsh. Criminal networks do not respect borders, recognize sovereignty and wait for bureaucratic clearances.”

To defeat these syndicates, law enforcement must act with a level of agility, mutual trust and seamless real-time cooperation that overcomes traditional barriers, he said.

“Strengthened cooperation is no longer just a political choice; it is an absolute necessity for our common survival,” the NCB chief declared.

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To address new threats, dedicated sessions focused on the use of Darknet platforms and digital technologies, the alarming rise of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the critical need to prevent abuse of precursor chemicals, were planned at the meeting, he said.

On India’s fight against drugs, the top official said an unyielding, comprehensive policy of zero tolerance against narcotics has been institutionalised.

For India, “zero tolerance” means total disruption of trade networks, financial starvation of drug syndicates through asset forfeiture and seamless integration of our state, national and international intelligence services under a unified whole-of-government approach, he said.

Garg also highlighted the country’s restorative attitude towards victims of drug abuse by rejecting the notion that addiction is a simple failure of law and order.

“Instead, we have created a futuristic model focused on harm reduction and holistic recovery, recognizing victims as citizens who must be led back to productive lives. By anchoring high-tech law enforcement alongside community healing, we are not only disrupting the drug trade, but healing our social fabric and securing the future of our youth,” he said.

Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2024, and Indonesia joined in 2025.

The grouping has emerged as an influential bloc that brings together 11 major emerging economies that account for about 49.5 percent of the world’s population, about 40 percent of global GDP and nearly 26 percent of global trade.

Key things

The establishment of a virtual BRICS task force aims to improve real-time intelligence sharing and joint operations against drug trafficking.
India’s holistic approach focuses not only on enforcement but also on the rehabilitation of victims, redefining addiction as a social challenge, not just a legal problem.
Cooperation among the BRICS countries is essential to combat the increasingly sophisticated and interconnected nature of the modern drug trade.