Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Drug syndicates use WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal to run illegal trade
Some people who sell illegal drugs are using phone apps to run their business.
Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and Snapchat let them talk to each other secretly.
The government of India found out about this and told the parliament.
These apps help the bad people plan how to get drugs, move them, hide them and sell them.
Using apps makes it harder for police to catch them.
So the government is hiring computer experts to help find them online.
Police officers are learning how to read digital messages and look at computer evidence.
They are also learning about digital money called cryptocurrency, which criminals sometimes use.
This training helps police keep up with clever criminals.
The Ministry of Home Affairs told the Rajya Sabha that drug syndicates use digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Zangi and Signal to run illegal trade.
Narcotics Control Bureau investigations found these platforms are used to coordinate procurement, transportation, concealment and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai shared the information in a written reply to questions raised by a Member of Parliament.
The government is engaging cyber experts and training officials to investigate darknet-linked drug trafficking and track cryptocurrency transactions.
Capacity-building programmes conducted with the US-DEA and Rashtriya Raksha University cover digital forensics, darknet monitoring and cyber-enabled narcotics investigations.
- Who
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, and organised drug trafficking syndicates.
- What
- The MHA informed the Rajya Sabha that drug syndicates use digital platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Zangi and Signal to coordinate the illegal drug trade.
- When
- On Wednesday, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha (exact date not stated in the article).
- Where
- India, in a written reply to questions raised in the Rajya Sabha.
- Why
- To coordinate procurement, transportation, concealment and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
- Agencies cited
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA); Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
- Responding official
- Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai
- Venue
- Rajya Sabha (written reply to MP questions)
- Platforms used
- WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Zangi, Signal and other social media services
- Trade stages coordinated
- Procurement, transportation, concealment, distribution
- Training partners
- US Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA); Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar
- Training focus
- Digital forensics, darknet monitoring, cryptocurrency investigations