India launches major offshore crackdown on drug trafficking

India has launched a major offshore crackdown to block drug trafficking from the Golden Crescent region of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. The Narcotics Control Bureau is working with the Indian Navy and the National Technical Research Organisation to intercept narcotics, with 65–70% of drugs entering India via sea routes using fishing boats and cargo containers. The government has labeled the issue as narco-terrorism, aiming for a 'Drug-free India by 2029,' following recent seizures including 3,300 kg in a 2024 joint operation and 300 kg after a sea dump in 2025. Key hotspots for the operation include the Gujarat coast, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.