Operation Trident, a multi-agency crackdown on an international syndicate operating across the India-Myanmar-Bangladesh corridor, marks a significant step-up in the government’s campaign against drug trafficking. The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has set December 31, 2029, as the deadline to eradicate drug networks across the country. The October 23 raids, which led to 18 people being arrested, were based on NCB investigations following the arrest of an alleged Myanmar-based kingpin in Delhi this May. However, the dismantling of the entire network would require identification of all suppliers in Myanmar and their successful prosecution. The government’s strategy, involving States and Union Territories, over 40 Ministries, central agencies and the pharmaceutical sector, is outlined in the Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029), launched by Mr. Shah at the Narco-Coordination Centre meeting on June 26, 2026. It envisages dismantling 100 major cartels and improving prosecution outcomes. The broad strategy reflects the complexity of the problem and signals a more focused approach. Data for 2025 also show an increase of over 50% in arrests and a nearly 53% rise in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act compared with 2024.
However, the government’s action-plan will depend on consistent implementation and efficient coordination among agencies, and striking at the real brains behind it all. In several cases, foreign-based key operatives still remain at large and big sharks often do not fall in the net. The 2021 Mundra port case in Gujarat, involving the seizure of about 3,000 kg of heroin, is a case in point wherein the principal Afghanistan-based suppliers have yet to be brought to book. Also, the quantity of drugs seized does not, by itself, indicate whether drug availability or consumption has declined. Punjab remains a prominent example of the continuing public health challenges associated with drug abuse. The alleged drug-related killings of anti-drug activists in Mansa and Gurdaspur, along with the alleged death by suicide of a father in Sangrur who had raised concerns about the easy availability of synthetic drugs in his locality, underscore the human cost of the problem. These incidents also raise questions about the protection of those who speak out against drug trafficking and networks. These concerns lend urgency to the objective of dismantling entire networks and apprehending the “big sharks”, rather than concentrating disproportionately on individual carriers. The key is to identify the ultimate beneficiaries by meticulously following the money trail and ensuring their conviction.
Published - October 28, 2026 12:20 am IST