India Faces Rising Narcotics Threat from the Golden Triangle
Emerging Drug Trafficking Challenges
According to the NCB, traditional narcotics such as opium and morphine continue to dominate seizures in Assam and Manipur
New Delhi, June 28: The Golden Triangle has become India's most significant narcotics issue, overtaking the diminishing influence of the Golden Crescent. The eastern borders of India are experiencing an alarming rise in drug trafficking, driven by the increasing illegal cultivation in Myanmar, as highlighted in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Annual Report 2025.
The report, unveiled on Friday, indicates that while the Golden Crescent, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, has seen a drastic decline in opium farming, the Golden Triangle has swiftly filled the void in global supply.
Illicit opium farming in Afghanistan plummeted from approximately 233,000 hectares in 2022 to a mere 10,000 hectares in 2023. In contrast, Myanmar has seen a significant increase in opium cultivation, rising by about 56% from 30,200 hectares in 2021 to 47,100 hectares in 2023.
India's eastern borders have become the most susceptible entry point for this burgeoning production.
Reflecting this trend, Assam has emerged as the leading state in the Northeast for opium and morphine seizures in 2025.
The report reveals that Assam confiscated 371 kg of opium, the highest among Northeastern states, and 46.51 kg of morphine, second only to Manipur's 139.95 kg. Additionally, Assam recorded 152 kg of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and 1 kg of cocaine, indicating the presence of various trafficking networks operating in the region.
Different trafficking patterns were noted across the Northeast. Mizoram accounted for 1,477 kg of ATS seizures, nearly 42% of the national total of 3,485 kg, making it the leading state for ATS interceptions. Manipur followed with 535 kg, while Tripura seized 129 kg. Arunachal Pradesh reported 27 kg of opium, Nagaland seized 16 kg, and Meghalaya recorded 25 kg of ATS.
The NCB stated that traditional narcotics like opium and morphine remain prevalent in Assam and Manipur, while synthetic drugs are increasingly trafficked through Mizoram and Tripura.
The report noted a 140% increase in India's ATS seizures from 2020 to 2025, with 8.2 tonnes confiscated in 2024 alone, highlighting the escalating threat from the east.
“Currently, India's eastern borders are the most direct and vulnerable entry points for this expanding production base,” the report emphasized, noting that the rise in ATS seizures reflects the evolving nature of drug trafficking networks.
The NCB identified Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland as states facing the most significant frontline exposure. It noted that porous border mechanisms, including the former Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border, have transformed these states from peripheral transit routes into active staging areas for narcotics distribution across India.
The report detailed the trafficking routes utilized by drug syndicates. The Champhai corridor in Mizoram, bordering Myanmar's Chin state, has become a major entry point for narcotics. Drugs are smuggled through unfenced and porous border areas before being transported to Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley via Aizawl and nearby road networks.
From Silchar, shipments move through Meghalaya to Guwahati, which has become a crucial distribution hub for the rest of the country. Another significant route is the Manipur corridor, where NH-102 serves as the primary land entry point for heroin and methamphetamine tablets entering India from Myanmar.