India's proximity to two of the world's biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal…

Question

India's proximity to two of the world's biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Drug trafficking from the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle finances gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking, so India must seal borders, unify enforcement, follow the money and cut demand. The NIA traced proceeds of 532 kg of heroin seized at Attari in 2019 to Hizbul Mujahideen.

**Introduction**

India lies between the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, and Myanmar became the world's largest opium producer in 2023 (UNODC). This makes India a transit route and a market, and drug money rarely stays in drugs alone.

**Linkages of Drug Trafficking with Other Illicit Activities**

SKETCH: flow-cycle | The Drug-Crime Cycle
- Opium and meth output
- Cross-border smuggling
- Street sale, cash
- Hawala laundering
- Arms and couriers

1. **Gunrunning**: In September 2019, Pakistani drones dropped AK-47 rifles in Punjab's Tarn Taran for a Khalistan Zindabad Force module along routes used for heroin.
2. **Money laundering**: The 2021 Mundra heroin came in as "talc stones" through a front firm, and the NIA traced the 2019 Attari heroin proceeds to Hizbul Mujahideen.
3. **Human trafficking**: Syndicates use trafficked women as drug mules across the Nepal and Bangladesh borders, and Golden Triangle networks hold trafficked Indians in Myanmar's scam compounds.

**Counter-Measures at the Border and in Enforcement**

1. **Seal the frontiers**: CIBMS smart fencing, the Free Movement Regime cut from 16 km to 10 km, and DRDO's D4 anti-drone system close key routes.
2. **Enforcement grid**: NDPS and PIT-NDPS, the NCORD mechanism, state Anti-Narcotics Task Forces and the NIDAAN database must work with the NIA.
3. **Follow the money**: PMLA attachment and bringing crypto exchanges under the PMLA in 2023 hit the profit motive.

**Way Forward**

1. **Diplomacy and demand**: Work through UNODC and BIMSTEC, and scale the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and the MANAS 1933 helpline.

**Conclusion**

Drug trafficking is the financial engine of gunrunning, laundering and trafficking. Breaking it at the border, in the bank and in the street can turn India's location from a vulnerability into a frontline of regional security.

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