Telegram emerges as major drug marketplace; Myanmar narcotics route raises national security concerns, says NCB

 

India's fight against narcotics is entering a new and more complex phase, with encrypted messaging platforms and shifting international drug routes creating fresh challenges for law enforcement agencies. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in its Annual Report 2025 released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has identified Telegram as one of the most significant digital platforms being used by drug traffickers to market and distribute illegal substances.

According to the report, traffickers are increasingly moving away from traditional street-level networks and darknet marketplaces, opting instead for easily accessible messaging applications such as Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal. Investigators have found that Telegram channels are being used to openly advertise drugs, share pricing information and coordinate deliveries with thousands of potential buyers and distributors.

The NCB noted that these platforms offer criminals a combination of convenience, anonymity and scale. Unlike darknet marketplaces, which require specialised software and technical knowledge to access, encrypted messaging applications are readily available on smartphones, allowing traffickers to reach a wider audience with minimal effort.

However, the agency warned that investigating such networks remains a significant challenge. Law enforcement agencies often face difficulties in securing timely cooperation from platform operators located outside India. Features such as disappearing messages, encrypted communications and the ability to operate multiple anonymous accounts make it harder to trace suspects and collect admissible evidence. Drug syndicates are also increasingly relying on layered communication channels and cryptocurrency-based transactions to conceal their identities and financial trails.

 

The findings come shortly after the Centre temporarily restricted access to Telegram ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG re-examination. Authorities had cited concerns that organised cheating networks were using the platform to circulate exam-related information. While access was restored on June 22, certain restrictions on message-editing features are set to remain in place until the end of June.

Beyond the digital threat, the NCB has also highlighted growing concerns over narcotics flowing into India through Myanmar. The agency described the issue as a serious security challenge that extends far beyond drug smuggling.

According to the report, proceeds from the illegal narcotics trade are increasingly being used to fund insurgent organisations operating in the region. The drug economy is also linked to the movement of illegal arms, strengthening criminal and militant networks across India's northeastern states.

The report notes a significant shift in global opium production patterns. Myanmar has now overtaken Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of illicit opium. The development follows the Taliban government's crackdown on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, which sharply reduced production there. In contrast, prolonged political instability, armed conflict and economic distress in Myanmar have contributed to a rise in opium cultivation and trafficking activities.

 

Security agencies believe that the porous India-Myanmar border has become a critical vulnerability. The Free Movement Regime and difficult terrain along the frontier have made it easier for traffickers to move drugs, weapons and contraband across borders. Officials warn that the growing narcotics trade is contributing to substance abuse in border communities while simultaneously generating funds for extremist and insurgent groups.

The NCB report also draws attention to emerging global drug trends that could pose future risks for India. Among the most concerning developments is the rapid growth of synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes. These laboratory-produced substances are believed to be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and have been linked to overdose crises in several countries.

The agency further noted that global cocaine production has reached record levels, while criminal networks are increasingly diversifying their operations across continents. The growing overlap between organised crime, drug trafficking and armed violence in transit countries has added another layer of complexity to international narcotics enforcement.

NCB Director General Anurag Garg said enforcement agencies across the country registered more than 1.48 lakh narcotics-related cases during the past year. Authorities also seized over 1,200 tonnes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, reflecting both the scale of trafficking operations and the intensity of enforcement efforts.

Officials say the range of seizures now extends far beyond traditional narcotics. Enforcement agencies are increasingly encountering synthetic drugs, diverted pharmaceutical products, precursor chemicals and sophisticated trafficking methods. This diversification, the NCB warns, demonstrates how rapidly the narcotics threat is evolving and why counter-narcotics strategies must adapt to emerging technologies, changing trafficking routes and new classes of drugs.