Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Trump Praises Modi’s Opium Crackdown as India Remains Drug-Listed
The United States praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for fighting illegal opium farming.
India is still on a United States list of 23 countries linked to major drug production or transit.
Being on the list does not necessarily mean India is failing to fight drugs.
The United States says geography, trade and economic conditions can make a country a drug route or production center.
The United States and India will continue working together on drug enforcement and supply chains.
Trump said his administration had made major progress against drug traffickers.
He pointed to stronger border security, fewer drug seizures and fewer overdose deaths.
He also said more cartel leaders were being extradited to the United States.
Trump warned that American military and law-enforcement agencies would continue targeting narcoterrorist groups.
The United States welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to curb illicit opium cultivation and strengthen supply-chain safeguards.
India remains among 23 countries designated by the United States as major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit countries for fiscal year 2027.
Washington said the designation reflects geographic, commercial and economic factors and does not automatically indicate government failure.
The United States and India plan continued cooperation on trafficking, precursor chemicals and illicit drug supply chains.
Trump claimed tighter borders, fewer seizures and declining overdose deaths showed historic progress against narcoterrorist and cartel groups.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United States Department of State, and the governments of the United States and India.
- What
- The United States praised India’s anti-opium efforts while continuing to designate India as a major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit country for fiscal year 2027.
- When
- The statements were reported on Wednesday, September 16; the designation applies to fiscal year 2027.
- Where
- The issue concerns India, United States-India counter-narcotics cooperation, and drug enforcement at the US southern border.
- Why
- The United States cited geographic, commercial and economic factors behind the designation while seeking continued cooperation with India against illicit drugs and precursor chemicals.
Cooperation and Anti-Drug Progress
Designation and Enforcement Scrutiny
Meaning of India’s inclusion
Cooperation and Anti-Drug Progress
The United States says India’s listing can reflect geographic, commercial and economic conditions that facilitate drug production or transit, even when its government actively enforces anti-drug policies.
Designation and Enforcement Scrutiny
India remains officially designated among major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit countries for fiscal year 2027, placing it under continued US scrutiny.
Assessment of US drug policy
Cooperation and Anti-Drug Progress
Trump describes tighter border security, lower seizures, declining overdose deaths and increased cartel extraditions as historic progress.
Designation and Enforcement Scrutiny
These improvements are presented in the articles as Trump’s claims, alongside his warning that the military and law-enforcement agencies will intensify action against narcoterrorist groups.
- India’s designation
- India is one of 23 countries designated by the United States as a major illicit drug-producing or drug-transit country for fiscal year 2027.
- US response to India
- The United States welcomed Narendra Modi’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and strengthen supply-chain integrity.
- Meaning of the list
- Washington said inclusion does not automatically mean a government has failed to combat narcotics.
- Cooperation framework
- The United States and India will continue cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework, including work on trafficking, precursor chemicals and supply chains.
- Trump’s claims
- Trump said drug seizures along the US southern border had fallen by more than half and that overdose deaths had declined.
- Enforcement claims
- Trump said US law-enforcement agencies had recorded record drug seizures and that allied countries were extraditing more cartel leaders to the United States.
- Separate US assessment
- The determination identified Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma and Colombia as having failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts to meet international counternarcotics obligations.
- Attribution difference
- The articles variously describe Trump as making the welcome and the United States Department of State as issuing the quoted statement.
Sources
Trump Praises PM Modi's Opium Crackdown As India Remains On US Drug List
Trump backs PM Modi’s anti-opium push even as India remains on US illicit drug-producing list
Trump Praises PM Modi’s Opium Crackdown, But India Remains On US ‘Major’ Drug List