Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Cocaine smuggling surges in India as cartels target new markets
Police in India are working hard to stop bad people from bringing cocaine and other dangerous drugs into the country.
Taking drugs can hurt your body, ruin your career, and make your family sad.
India's leader, PM Modi, started a special program on August 2, 2026, to keep young people safe from drugs.
Police found a huge amount of cocaine hidden inside a book warehouse in Delhi.
They also found more cocaine hidden in packets of food and at a medicine company.
The people who make and sell drugs hide them in clever ways, like inside luggage on airplanes.
Some drugs, called 'black cocaine,' are painted black so that dogs and machines cannot find them.
Drug makers are producing more cocaine than ever, so they are trying to sell it in new places, including India.
That is why police in many countries are teaming up to catch the smugglers.
Remember: drugs are bad for you, and it is better to stay away from them.
PM Narendra Modi launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan on August 2, 2026, calling drug supply part of a hostile 'enemy agenda' to weaken India.
On October 1, 2024, Delhi Police seized 562 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana from a South-West Delhi warehouse, worth over ₹5,620 crore.
A joint Delhi–Gujarat Police operation seized 518 kg of cocaine from a pharmaceutical company in Gujarat, valued at $595 million.
During 2025–26, the NCB and DRI intercepted major cocaine consignments, including 349 kg seized in May 2026 worth ₹1,745 crore on the Kalamboli–Bhiwandi logistics corridor.
The UNODC's 2026 World Drug Report shows cocaine production in Latin America has quadrupled to about 4,000 metric tons, while Western and Central Europe is the world's second-largest cocaine market.
- Who
- Indian law enforcement agencies (Delhi Police, Gujarat Police, NCB, DRI) and PM Narendra Modi, facing transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels.
- What
- A surge in cocaine and synthetic drug trafficking into India, marked by massive seizures of cocaine concealed in warehouses, food shipments, pharmaceutical facilities and air cargo.
- When
- From October 1, 2024 through May 2026, with the national anti-drug campaign launched on August 2, 2026.
- Where
- India (South-West Delhi, Gujarat, the Kalamboli–Bhiwandi corridor and airports), with cocaine originating in Latin America and routed through Europe, West Africa and North Sea ports such as Antwerp and Rotterdam.
- Why
- PM Modi alleges hostile nations use drug trafficking as a terror-driven strategy to weaken India, while cartels explore new markets as global cocaine supply far exceeds demand.
Criminal Market View
National Security View
Root Cause of the Cocaine Influx
Criminal Market View
Cocaine flows into India because transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels are exploring new markets as global supply far exceeds demand.
National Security View
PM Modi says drug supply is part of a terror-driven strategy by hostile nations to weaken India, making it an intentional attack on the country.
Response Strategy
Criminal Market View
Agencies should focus on international coordination and intelligence sharing, such as with EUROPOL, to track sophisticated high-sea and air smuggling networks.
National Security View
Indian agencies like DRI and Customs already know the modus operandi from past gold smuggling and can counter the threat through domestic intelligence and surface operations.
- Anti-Drug Campaign
- Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, launched August 2, 2026
- Delhi Seizure (Oct 1, 2024)
- 562 kg cocaine and 40 kg hydroponic marijuana, valued at over ₹5,620 crore
- Gujarat Seizure
- 518 kg cocaine from a pharmaceutical company, valued at $595 million
- May 2026 Seizure
- 349 kg cocaine worth ₹1,745 crore on the Kalamboli–Bhiwandi corridor
- Latin American Cocaine Output
- About 4,000 metric tons, quadrupled in the last 10 years
- Europe Cocaine Users (2024)
- 5.5 million people, about 22% of users worldwide (UNODC)
- Market Trends (2014–2024)
- Street prices fell 18%; cocaine purity rose 44%
- Emerging Threat
- 'Black cocaine' masked with charcoal or iron oxide to evade detection