India and the U.S. Launch Joint Initiative Against Drug Trafficking

Washington, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : India and the United States have committed to a collaborative effort to combat drug trafficking. The White House announced this initiative following bilateral discussions aimed at uncovering drug smuggling networks and halting the illegal supply chains of chemicals used to produce synthetic drugs.

The second meeting of the India-U.S. Drug Policy Executive Working Group took place in New Delhi from November 2-3. During this session, officials prioritized sharing intelligence, improving coordination among law enforcement agencies, and securing the pharmaceutical supply chain.

A statement from the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) highlighted discussions on emerging threats from trafficking and measures to reduce drug demand. The Indian delegation was led by Anurag Garg, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), while the U.S. team was headed by Debbie Seguin, Acting Deputy Director of ONDCP.

Sara Carter, ONDCP Director, emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation in dismantling international drug trafficking networks and preventing the illegal distribution of synthetic drugs and their precursors in global markets.

U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated that both nations are moving beyond mere promises to practical cooperation. He noted that they are achieving tangible results, such as preventing the supply of illegal chemicals and securing commercial supply chains, while targeting the cartels that exploit these resources.

Garg also presented India’s “Vision Roadmap 2026-2029,” which focuses on investigating entire criminal networks rather than just drug seizures. This approach includes targeting financiers, suppliers, and transport networks, as well as emphasizing financial investigations, prevention, and rehabilitation.

The delegations discussed India’s two enforcement initiatives, “Operation Medmax” and “Operation Wipe.” They also talked about a voluntary code of conduct aimed at preventing chemicals used in synthetic drug production from shifting from legitimate trade to illegal activities.

“Operation Medmax,” conducted in July 2025, led to the dismantling of a gang involved in the international sale of banned drugs, based on intelligence gathered jointly by the NCB and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The gang was reportedly active in Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia, with investigations starting from the seizure of 3.7 kilograms of tramadol tablets in India.

Meanwhile, “Operation Wipe,” launched in April, targets the online listing of controlled drugs under India’s narcotics laws. The NCB has identified 122 cases related to 62 substances, including fentanyl. This operation monitors offers of controlled drugs on publicly accessible websites and has shared lists of controlled substances with platforms to help identify and remove illegal listings.

Both sides agreed to exchange best practices for targeted enforcement. The White House noted that ongoing communication and timely intelligence sharing would be crucial due to the evolving tactics used by traffickers. This meeting followed the inaugural session of the group held in Washington on January 20-21.