Latest news with #NarcoticsControlBureau
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Brunei cracks down on int'l drug cartel
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has thwarted an international drug syndicate which recruited five Bruneian men, local media reported on Thursday (June 19). The local men were recruited as drug couriers smuggling drugs into Europe via Brunei's neighbouring country, NCB said in a press release on Thursday. According to local daily Borneo Bulletin, those local men earned a total of 21,000 Brunei dollars (US$16,354) from smuggling Cannabis weighing 68 kg worth over a million Euros. The NCB expressed concern over the troubling trend of Bruneians being recruited for drug smuggling activities and urged them to resist being swayed by the enticing offers from the syndicate. - Xinhua
News18
a day ago
- News18
3.75 Lakh Vs Just 268: India's War On Drugs High On Arrests, Low On Convictions In Last 3 Years
Last Updated: Nearly 40 lakh kg of drugs have been seized across India in these three years with an approximate collective value of more than Rs 52,000 crore In three years, India registered over 3 lakh drug trafficking cases and 3.75 lakh arrests, but only 268 led to convictions, a rate below 1%, News18 analysis shows. According to the data from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a total of 89,913 cases were registered in calendar year 2024, with 1.16 lakh arrests under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The total quantity of drugs seized across India stood at 13.30 lakh kg. The numbers in 2024 were lower than in 2023: 1.09 lakh cases, 1.32 lakh arrests, and 13.89 lakh kg of drugs seized under the NDPS Act. While the number of arrests and cases may appear encouraging, they paint a grim picture when it comes to convictions. The number of convictions each year has improved in the last three years, but remained very low compared to the number of cases and arrests—54 in 2022, 104 in 2023, and 110 in 2024, NCB data shows. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, India reported an average of 280, 300, and 246 cases related to the NDPS Act per day, respectively, leading to 347, 364, and 317 arrests per day, roughly. In 2022, nearly five convictions were secured each month, which increased to about nine per month in 2023 and 2024, the analysis of the official data shows. The analysis also shows that the states in the top position have reported lower convictions than states with fewer cases. Uttar Pradesh leads with the most convictions (42), followed by Bihar (38) and Tamil Nadu (28) in the three-year period. It is also worth noting that post-2020, the number of cases registered and arrests made was on the rise until 2024. The numbers in 2024 were fewer than in 2023 but more than in 2020 and 2021. Also, 16 lakh kg of drugs seized in 2021 marked the highest seizure year between 2020 and 2024. In the last three years, nearly 40 lakh kg of drugs have been seized across India. The numbers from NCB suggest that this quantity of drugs has a collective value of more than Rs 52,000 crore in the international illicit market. Kerala Tops in Drug Case Registrations Between calendar years 2022 and 2024, Kerala has been the biggest contributor, with the highest number of cases registered each year. It is the only state in India to report over 25,000 drug-related cases each year—26,918 in 2022, 30,715 in 2023, and 27,701 in 2024. In terms of the cases reported in three years, the top five states, accountable for more than 1.94 lakh cases collectively, were Kerala (85,334), Maharashtra (35,883), Punjab (33,012), Uttar Pradesh (24,698), and Madhya Pradesh (15,724). As is clear from the graph, Kerala was constantly in the top position, and Uttar Pradesh has been in the fourth position all these years. Punjab, which was in the third spot in 2022 and 2023, came second in 2024, replacing Maharashtra. Although Madhya Pradesh appeared in the top five list only once, it still ranked fifth overall in the total number of cases between 2022 and 2024. It reported 4,836 cases in 2022, 6,537 in 2023, and 4,351 in 2024. A total of seven states have registered more than 10,000 cases between 2022 and 2024. Rajasthan (14,298) and Haryana (10,600) followed Madhya Pradesh in the list. As shown in the graph, nine states reported less than 500 cases collectively in the three-year period. Clubbed with Manipur (859), Arunachal Pradesh (736), and Nagaland (723), 12 states reported less than 1,000 cases between 2022 and 2024. Drug Cases Declined in 23 States in 2024, But Rose in Telangana and Delhi As is clear from the overall drop, the cases registered in 2024 in 23 states were fewer than in 2023. In Maharashtra, the cases registered dropped to more than half, from 15,561 in 2023 to 7,536 in 2024. Kerala was second in terms of drop in cases, followed by Punjab, from 11,564 cases in 2023 to 9,025 in 2024. But Telangana, Delhi, and Assam were among the 13 states where cases increased in 2024 when compared to 2023. Telangana registered 1,281 cases in 2022, then 1,495 in 2023, and 2,387 in 2024. Delhi was next on the list—1,343 in 2022, followed by 1,415 in 2023 and 1,854 in 2024. In Assam, in 2022 and 2023, a little over 2,900 cases were registered, which increased to 3,350 in 2024. Minor increases were also reported in Rajasthan (from 5,098 to 5,462), Jharkhand (from 535 to 800), Andhra Pradesh (from 1,749 to 1,869), and West Bengal (from 1,005 to 1,089) between 2023 and 2024. Fighting Low Conviction There are a number of reasons for low convictions—sometimes there are lapses in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), sometimes slow disposal of cases in courts, and adding to these is the higher acquittal rates in these cases. top videos View all Acknowledging the issue, the government—through the NCB—organises training programmes to upgrade the skills of the public prosecutors and drug law enforcement officers to ensure a better conviction rate. Despite the increase in enforcement and seizures, the conviction gap underscores a need for stronger prosecution systems, faster trials, and coordinated follow-up by law enforcement and judicial authorities to ensure justice in India's fight against narcotics. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @ More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : drugs narcotics numberspeak Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 21, 2025, 07:30 IST News india 3.75 Lakh Vs Just 268: India's War On Drugs High On Arrests, Low On Convictions In Last 3 Years
Malaysia Sun
2 days ago
- Malaysia Sun
Brunei cracks down on int'l drug cartel
Xinhua 20 Jun 2025, 07:45 GMT+10 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has thwarted an international drug syndicate which recruited five Bruneian men, local media reported on Thursday. The local men were recruited as drug couriers smuggling drugs into Europe via Brunei's neighboring country, NCB said in a press release on Thursday. According to local daily Borneo Bulletin, those local men earned a total of 21,000 Brunei dollars (16,354 U.S. dollars) from smuggling Cannabis weighing 68 kg worth over a million Euros. The NCB expressed concern over the troubling trend of Bruneians being recruited for drug smuggling activities and urged them to resist being swayed by the enticing offers from the syndicate.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Five Bruneians arrested for role in international drug syndicate
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Five Bruneian men aged between 22 and 38 have been arrested for their involvement in a cross-border drug smuggling operation orchestrated by an international drug syndicate, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) revealed in a statement on Thursday (June 19). The suspects were apprehended at various locations across the country during the final week of May 2025 as part of Operasi POTTER, a targeted enforcement effort led by the bureau. Investigations found that the individuals had been recruited by a foreign-based syndicate to act as couriers for delivering cannabis to destinations in Europe through third countries. Four of the suspects had reportedly completed multiple successful smuggling trips, handing over the drugs to syndicate members at pre-arranged locations abroad. One suspect, meanwhile, served as a recruiter, enlisting locals into the syndicate's operations in exchange for commissions for each successful delivery. NCB estimates that the total financial gain from their smuggling activities amounted to approximately BND21,000, while the total volume of cannabis trafficked reached 68 kilogrammes, with a street value exceeding BND1 million at the destination countries. The syndicate's modus operandi involved concealing drugs in specially modified luggage and fully covering all travel costs — including accommodation, airfare, and ground transport — as an incentive for locals to participate. Recruits were also encouraged to bring in new members to ensure the continuity of the trafficking operation. NCB expressed deep concern over the involvement of Bruneians in serious criminal activities abroad and reminded the public to remain vigilant against offers of quick financial gain, which could ultimately lead to severe legal consequences, imprisonment, or personal harm overseas. 'Participation in criminal activity, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is not a defensible excuse under foreign laws,' the bureau warned. The NCB also extended its appreciation to both local and international intelligence and enforcement agencies for their collaboration in ensuring the success of this operation. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Tramadol diversion case: ED targets four pharma firms in UP
As many as four pharmaceutical firms in Uttar Pradesh are under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly diverting Tramadol, a regulated opioid painkiller, for illegal sale and abuse in Punjab. The probe follows coordinated raids across multiple states, with ED officials confirming that the firms, located in Lucknow and Muzaffarnagar, are suspected of siphoning off large consignments of the drug in connivance with agents and employees. The ED's Jalandhar unit is spearheading the investigation, which has revealed that these companies may have been siphoning off large consignments of Tramadol, a prescription-only medication, and routing it to drug addicts with the help of agents and company employees. The development follows Tuesday's simultaneous raids at 15 locations spread across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra. In UP, the searches were conducted at four key locations, two in Lucknow and one each in Muzaffarnagar and Gonda. In Lucknow, the ED raided an apartment on Jopling Road in Hazratganj and another property in the Rajajipuram area. These sites are reportedly linked to pharmaceutical agents and employees. A senior ED official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'Two pharmaceutical companies in Lucknow and two in Muzaffarnagar are under scrutiny for allegedly diverting Tramadol stock for illegal distribution. The agency is verifying discrepancies between manufactured quantities and their authorised sales records.' According to ED officials, the module under investigation allegedly spanned several states and operated through a nexus involving pharmaceutical firm employees, wholesale distributors, and retailers. The operation started at 8.30 am on Tuesday with assistance from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). 'Tramadol is categorised as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. It is a tightly regulated drug due to its potential for abuse and severe health consequences,' a second official explained. 'Its illegal sale, often at inflated prices, poses a serious threat to public health.'
