Knowledge Nugget Nitazenes and Telegram Drug Networks What the NCB Annual Report 2025 Shows

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Annual Report 2025 has highlighted the growing threat posed by nitazenes, an extremely potent class of synthetic opioids, and the increasing use of encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram for drug trafficking. The report warns that nitazenes, which can be several hundred times more potent than heroin, are rapidly emerging as a major global health and law enforcement challenge. Their spread across multiple countries reflects the changing nature of the international narcotics market.

According to the report, drug traffickers are increasingly shifting from conventional supply chains to digital platforms. Encrypted applications such as Telegram, along with WhatsApp and Signal, are being used to advertise narcotics, connect buyers with sellers, and coordinate deliveries while avoiding detection. The NCB noted that these technologies have made illicit drug networks more organised, harder to trace, and capable of operating across international borders.

The report also draws attention to India's changing drug security landscape. It identifies the Myanmar–North East India corridor as a major trafficking route, with Myanmar emerging as a leading source of illicit opium following restrictions on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. The report further highlights that drug trafficking through this region is increasingly linked with organised crime, arms smuggling, and the financing of militant groups, making it a serious national security concern.

On the enforcement front, the NCB reported record anti-drug operations during 2025. Drug law enforcement agencies across the country registered over 1.48 lakh cases and seized more than 1,200 tonnes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These seizures included plant-based drugs, synthetic narcotics, pharmaceutical diversions, and precursor chemicals, demonstrating the growing complexity and diversity of the drug trade in India.

To address these evolving threats, the government has adopted a technology-driven and coordinated enforcement strategy. Alongside the release of the NCB Annual Report 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs unveiled the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026–2029), which focuses on tackling synthetic drugs, darknet-enabled trafficking, precursor chemical control, inter-agency coordination, and public awareness. The strategy aims to strengthen India's "zero tolerance" approach to narcotics while preparing enforcement agencies for emerging digital and synthetic drug challenges.