Smugglers at the Shore: The Silent Surge of Drug Trafficking Along India’s Coastline

India’s 7,516-kilometer coastline has long been a strategic economic asset—but in recent years, it’s increasingly becoming a gateway for drug traffickers. From Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, coastal states have reported a sharp rise in high-volume narcotics seizures, triggering alarms in both security and public health circles.

The most recent haul—over 3,300 kg of heroin seized off the Gujarat coast in May 2025—underscores a worrying trend: drug syndicates are turning India’s vast maritime borders into smuggling highways. And the challenge isn’t just the quantity of narcotics entering Indian shores; it’s the sophistication and international footprint of the operations.

📊 A Growing Threat: By the Numbers

According to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), there has been:

• Over 60% increase in coastal drug seizures in the last two years

• Frequent use of deep-sea rendezvous points between Indian and foreign vessels

• Emergence of new trafficking routes through the Lakshadweep, Maldives, and the Gulf of Mannar

States with highest coastal seizures in 2024-25:

• Gujarat – 12,600 kg (mostly heroin and methamphetamine)

• Tamil Nadu – 6,300 kg (cannabis, meth, and synthetic opioids)

• Maharashtra and Kerala – rising cases involving synthetic party drugs

Explore official data from India’s Annual Drug Seizure Reports.

Why Drug Syndicates Are Targeting India’s Coast

1. Porous Maritime Borders

With thousands of fishing boats operating daily, the lack of standard tracking mechanisms and limited patrolling capacity make India’s coastline a prime target.

2. Strategic Location

India’s proximity to the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) puts it on the path of major international drug routes.

Read United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s report on Asian drug routes.

3. Transnational Network Tactics

Traffickers often use “motherships” stationed in international waters, offloading cargo onto smaller vessels that slip through unmonitored coastal points.

For a detailed case study, see Gujarat ATS’s official statement on recent seizures.

How the Modus Operandi Has Evolved

Recent arrests and reports reveal:

• Use of GPS trackers and satellite phones

• Recruitment of local fishermen as couriers, often under threat or for cash

• Dark web payments and cryptocurrency laundering tied to Indian sleeper cells

• Intelligence inputs from foreign naval agencies, particularly Sri Lanka and Australia

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has documented several such cases in its Annual Smuggling Report.

What the Government Is Doing—and What’s Missing

🔍 Steps Taken:

• Expansion of Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems

• Coordination between Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and state marine police

• Strengthening intelligence sharing with countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Iran

• Enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985

Read the full text of the NDPS Act for legal framework.

🚨 What’s Still Lacking:

• Inadequate manpower and infrastructure at minor ports

• Poor coordination among state marine agencies

• Low conviction rates in drug-related cases, especially where international syndicates are involved

• No consistent drug de-addiction and rehabilitation policy, especially in smuggling-prone areas

The Bigger Picture: National Security & Public Health

While drug trafficking is often treated as a law-and-order issue, its national security and societal implications are far-reaching:

• Funding from drug cartels often fuels terrorism and insurgency, particularly in Kashmir and the Northeast.

• Youth addiction is rising in coastal and border districts, contributing to school dropouts, mental health issues, and local crime.

• Women and children are increasingly drawn into drug peddling and courier roles, according to UN Women India.

A Case in Point: The "Sea Queen" Seizure

In January 2025, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a Sri Lankan fishing vessel—Sea Queen—off the Kerala coast. The bust led to:

• Seizure of 800 kg of methamphetamine

• Arrest of 7 foreign nationals

• Discovery of a Dubai-based financier with links to African and Southeast Asian narcotics hubs

The joint operation, aided by INTERPOL, revealed how international syndicates are embedding themselves in South Asia’s maritime ecosystem.

How Citizens and Local Fisherfolk Can Help

With state authorities stretched thin, community awareness and cooperation are vital:

• Fishermen should report unusual vessel activity or GPS logs

• Coastal residents must be aware of signs of synthetic drug use and trafficking

• Schools and NGOs in fishing communities can conduct anti-drug education drives

NGOs like SPYM (Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses) and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan are doing essential grassroots work in this space.

Conclusion: A Ticking Time Bomb

India’s coastline, once known for its economic promise, is now a frontline in a new kind of war—one that’s quiet, chemical, and increasingly global. The rise in maritime drug trafficking is more than just a policing issue—it is a public health crisis, a security loophole, and a test of international cooperation.

Unless there’s urgent investment in coastal monitoring tech, legal enforcement, and community engagement, the problem will continue to grow in depth and danger—just like the tides it hides beneath.