The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Monday that law enforcement agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), seized drugs worth ₹25,330 crore across India in 2024.

This is a 55% increase compared to 2023 when the total seized drugs were valued at ₹16,100 crore. An official statement credited this success to the 'Bottom-to-Top' and 'Top-to-Bottom' approach, carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah. The statement also noted a notable rise in the seizure of highly addictive synthetic drugs, cocaine and pharmaceutical substances used as psychotropic drugs, which are also of higher value. The Union Government has been implementing a zero-tolerance policy as part of its "Whole-of-Government Approach" to establish a drug-free India.

In 2024, the amount of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), such as Methamphetamine, seized more than doubled, increasing from 34 quintals in 2023 to 80 quintals. Cocaine seizures also saw a significant rise, going from 292 kg in 2023 to 1,426 kg in 2024. Mephedrone seizures sharply increased, rising from 688 kg in 2023 to 3,391 kg in 2024. Hashish seizures grew from 34 quintals in 2023 to 61 quintals in 2024. The confiscation of pharmaceutical drugs, which are being increasingly misused as psychotropic substances, surged from 1.84 crore tablets in 2023 to 4.69 crore tablets in 2024. Throughout 2024, the NCB worked with other agencies to carry out a number of noteworthy operations, which the MHA recognised.

Together with Delhi Police's Special Cell, an international drug trafficking network was busted in February 2024, resulting in the arrest of three people and the confiscation of fifty kilograms of pseudoephedrine, a precursor to narcotics. The Australian and New Zealand authorities' intelligence served as the basis for the bust. In February 2024, under Operation Sagar Manthan-1, a joint effort by the NCB, Indian Navy, and Gujarat ATS resulted in the seizure of 3,300 kg of drugs in the Indian Ocean. The confiscated substances included 3,110 kg of charas/hashish, 158.3 kg of crystalline methamphetamine, and 24.6 kg of suspected heroin. Additionally, five foreign nationals were taken into custody. Similarly, in April last year, the NCB, Gujarat ATS, and Indian Coast Guard intercepted a foreign vessel carrying 86 kg of heroin. As a result, 14 Pakistani nationals were arrested, and the seized drugs were valued at approximately Rs 602 crore.

In October, officials conducted a search at a factory in the Kasna Industrial Area, Gautam Budh Nagar, where they discovered 95 kg of Methamphetamine in both solid and liquid forms. During the operation, authorities also seized a large amount of chemicals, including Acetone, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylene Chloride, Ethanol, Toluene, Red Phosphorus and Ethyl Acetate. Additionally, they found imported machinery used for drug production. The following month, in November, the NCB carried out one of its biggest drug busts in Delhi. They recovered 82.53 kg of high-grade cocaine from locations in Janakpuri and Nangloi. This seizure was the result of detailed investigations into multiple drug-related cases. The government is dedicated to breaking down drug trafficking networks and strengthening efforts to stop the illegal drug trade in India.