Lok Sabha Question No. 2802 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Drug Trafficking through Ports
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2802

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  MARCH, 2025/ PHALGUNA 27, 1946 (SAKA)

DRUG TRAFFICKING THROUGH PORTS

2802.     SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been an increase in drug seizures at ports during the last five years;
- (b) the quantity and value of narcotic drugs seized at major Indian ports during this period, port-wise; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen port security and prevent drug trafficking through ports?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

- (a) As per the data made available by various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the number of drug seizure cases affected at ports in last five years is as under:-

|   Sr.No |   Year |   No of cases |
|---------|--------|---------------|
|       1 |   2020 |            01 |
|       2 |   2021 |            04 |
|       3 |   2022 |            10 |
|       4 |   2023 |            01 |
|       5 |   2024 |            03 |

Source: Narcotics Control Bureau

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2802 FOR 18.03.2025

- (b) The quantity and value of narcotic drugs seized at major Indian ports during last five years port-wise is at Annexure-I.
- (c) The seizures at major ports is the result of the effective measures taken  in  the  field  of  controlling  drug  trafficking  and  highlight  the successful  coordination  between  State  and  Central  Law  Enforcement Agencies, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Indian Security Forces such  as  the  Indian  Coast  Guard  and  the  Indian  Navy.  Government  has taken  various  steps  to  strengthen  port  security  and  prevent  drug trafficking through ports, some of which are as under: -
- (i) Constant vigil is being kept at ports and waterways by multiple Central  and  State  agencies  including  Customs,  DRI,  NCB, Indian  Navy,  Indian  Coast  Guard,  etc  across  the  country  to prevent illicit transport of narcotics in India.
- (ii) Creation of Multi Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG) by National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) under the National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) on 15.11.2021. Two  sub-groups  have  been  created  under  MAMSG  viz. -MSG(Policy)  and  MSG(Int).  NCB  provides  its  inputs  as  a permanent member of MSG-Int.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2802 FOR 18.03.2025

- (iii) NCB  coordinates  with  agencies  like  Navy,  Coast  Guard  & Marine  Police  to  conduct  joint  operations  to  control    drug trafficking.
- (iv) National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in coordination with sister agencies has prepared an SOP on Maritime Security Coordination for anti-smuggling operations in Maritime Zones of  India.    This  SOP  is  aimed  to  enhance  inter-agency,  interdepartment and inter-Ministerial coordination in planning antismuggling  operations with respect to  contraband  goods including NDPS and sensitive cargo.
- (v) Regular  inspections  are  conducted  by  port  authorities  to ensure  that  all  goods,  including  containers,  are  properly inspected and cleared before their release.
- (vi) The  Coast  Guard  is  providing  training  to  NCB  and  Port Authorities for detection and prevention of drug trafficking.
- (vii) A  dedicated  Anti-Narcotics  Task  Force  (ANTF)  headed  by Additional  Director  General/  Inspector  General  level  Police Officer has been established in each State/ Union Territory to function  as  the  NCORD  Secretariat  for  the  State/  Union Territory  and  follow-up  on  compliance  of  decisions  taken  in NCORD meetings at different levels.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2802 FOR 18.03.2025

- (viii) To monitor the investigation of significant and important drug cases including cases of narco-terrorism, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) with Director General, NCB as its Chairman has been set up. Till date, 09 JCC meetings at the Central level and 08 JCC at the State level have been conducted.
- (ix) Regular  efforts  are  being  made  to  increase  international cooperation  for  exchange  of  information  and  investigative assistance  in  administering  control  over  the  movement  of Narcotic  Drugs  &  Psychotropic  Substances  and  Precursor Chemicals.

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## Quantity and value of Narcotic drugs seized at major Indian ports during last five years

|   Sr.No. | Port Name                                | Agency                | Seizure Date   | Drug               | Quantity (In Kg)   | Value (INR.Rs)   |
|----------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------|--------------------|--------------------|------------------|
|        1 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 08-08-2020     | Heroin             | 191                | 382 Crores       |
|        2 | VOC Port, Tuticorin, TN                  | DRI                   | 20-04-2021     | Cocaine            | 303                | 1,515 Crores     |
|        3 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 01-07-2021     | Heroin             | 294                | 588 Crores       |
|        4 | Adani Port, SEZ, Mundra, Gujarat         | DRI                   | 19-09-2021     | Heroin             | 2988               | 5,976 Crores     |
|        5 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 05-10-2021     | Heroin             | 25                 | 50 Crores        |
|        6 | CFS Gandhidham, Gujarat                  | DRI / Gujarat ATS     | 28-04-2022     | Heroin             | 201                | 402 Crores       |
|        7 | Pipavav Port, Gujarat                    | DRI                   | 29-04-2022     | Heroin             | 90                 | 180 Crores       |
|        8 | CFS ,Raigarh, MH                         | DRI                   | 30-04-2022     | Heroin             | 29                 | 58 Crores        |
|        9 | Adani Port, SEZ, Mundra, Gujarat         | DRI                   | 26-05-2022     | Cocaine            | 52                 | 260 Crores       |
|       10 | Adani Port, SEZ, Mundra, Gujarat         | Gujarat ATS / Customs | 11-07-2022     | Heroin             | 75                 | 150 Crores       |
|       11 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | Maharashtra Police    | 15-07-2022     | Heroin             | 73                 | 146 Crores       |
|       12 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | Delhi Police          | 04-09-2022     | Heroin             | 345                | 690 Crores       |
|       13 | Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, WB | DRI / Gujarat ATS     | 10-09-2022     | Heroin             | 39                 | 78 Crores        |
|       14 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 01-10-2022     | Methamphetamine    | 198                | 159 Crores       |
|       14 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 01-10-2022     | Cocaine            | 9                  | 45 Crores        |
|       15 | JNPT, Mumbai, MH                         | DRI                   | 07-10-2022     | Cocaine            | 50                 | 250 Crores       |
|       16 | AV Joshi CFS, Gandidham, Gujarat         | DRI                   | 08-08-2023     | Cocaine            | 1                  | 5 Crores         |
|       17 | CFS, Mundra, Gujarat                     | Customs               | 28-07-2024     | Tramadol Tablets   | 68,78,000 (In Nos) | 275 Crores       |
|       18 | CFS, Mundra, Gujarat                     | Customs               | 13-09-2024     | Tramadol Tablets   | 25,41,000 (in Nos) | 102 Crores       |
|       19 | Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, WB | Customs               | 28-10-2024     | Tramadol Injection | 1000(In No.)       | 0.0165 Crores    |

Source: Narcotics Control Bureau