Fentanyl not a major problem domestically, but precursor chemicals are causing alarm

India's Surveillance Tools

Posted by AI on 2025-05-30 13:06:29 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-26 15:43:27

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 5

---

Despite domestic fentanyl abuse not being a major problem, Indian officials are concerned about the potential for precursor chemicals to end up in the hands of transnational drug-trafficking networks.

India is a significant producer of prescription drugs and a transit point for global drug-trafficking networks. Precursor chemicals have frequently fallen into the hands of criminal organizations around the world.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 controls precursor chemicals in India. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has alerted the Narcotics Control Bureau to reports of fake pharmaceuticals containing fentanyl. Officials are concerned that Indian connections to the US fentanyl supply chain may be discovered across the porous US-Canada border.

The Indian government has restricted NPP and ANPP exports by classifying them as Schedule B of the NDPS Act. Following reports of domestic manufacture of ANPP trafficking in Mexico, the government tightened controls over NPP and ANPP by designating them as Schedule A in the NDPS RCS Order of 2013.

Despite increased enforcement, criminal organizations constantly develop new methods of trafficking synthetic drugs. Fentanyl trafficking is typically done through parcel diversion from pharmaceutical drugs. Officials are concerned that crime, terror, and drug networks in Canada and the US will be able to spread their net wider if precursor chemicals are not controlled.

While fentanyl abuse in India is not alarming, the possibility of domestic production through criminal networks is alarming. Officials warn that drug cartels will flock to the most lucrative trade, whether opioids or fentanyl.

Go!