India Cracks Down on Darknet Drug Sales with Cryptocurrency Tracking

• India has formulated a new strategy to combat drug sales on the darknet.
• The new strategy involves partnering with local agencies.
• India launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country.

India is intensifying its fight against drug trafficking , particularly on the darknet, by leveraging cryptocurrency monitoring to track illicit transactions.

As part of its National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), the government is collaborating with local authorities and focusing on the growing trend of drug sales facilitated by cryptocurrencies. This move follows a rise in drug trafficking, as evidenced by recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

According to the published data , in 2022, India recorded 38,064 drug trafficking cases, a significant increase from the 26,560 cases recorded in 2020. More recent data has also revealed a spike in the use of the darknet and cryptocurrencies for drug-related transactions.

Number-wise, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau reported 21 cases involving the darknet and cryptocurrencies in 2023, compared to only three in 2020. The bureau recorded its highest number of cases in 2021, with 49. As of April 2024, they have reported 11 cases of drug-related transactions using cryptocurrencies.

Through a press release , the Indian government outlined steps to combat this trend, emphasizing its collaboration with local authorities across states and districts.

The NAPDDR implementation includes launching the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts with over 8,000 youth volunteers. The government is also supporting 345 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), providing treatment, preventive education, awareness, counseling, detoxification, and aftercare for drug victims.

The government also highlighted several other initiatives, primarily partnerships with local agencies. It has also intensified its focus on the darknet, particularly drug transactions facilitated by cryptocurrencies.