The Narendra Modi government has set a target to rid India of narcotics by 2047. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at an event, reiterated the commitment to achieving a Drug-Free India by the set year. Security agencies are combating international and domestic cartels attempting to smuggle drugs into India, with a focus on states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, and now Kerala.
The cartels in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have been using established patterns and methods for drug trafficking. However, the agencies are facing new challenges in Kerala, where traffickers constantly change their smuggling methods. The shift in drug trafficking routes has seen an increase in drugs, especially heroin, being sourced from Myanmar into India.
Officials highlight the difficulty faced by narcotics cartels due to heightened security along traditional trafficking routes. As a result, smuggling networks have redirected operations through Myanmar. Pakistani cartels are collaborating with counterparts in Myanmar to push heroin into India through the Bangladesh border, with Kerala being a major target market.
Heroin, due to high profit margins, is the preferred drug entering the Kerala market. Smugglers are using innovative methods to conceal drugs, such as hiding heroin in soapboxes or tiny bottles. Law enforcement agencies are facing challenges due to the small quantities smuggled per trip, making detection harder.
Law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the Malabar corridor in Kerala, where drug-related activities have surged. Traffickers are increasingly targeting this region, with Kozhikode emerging as a major area of concern. The region’s proximity to major transit hubs and interstate road networks has made it an attractive destination for traffickers.
Officials note a shift in carrier choices, with influential individuals and women increasingly used for drug transportation. Recent incidents in Kerala have seen the arrest of individuals, including social media influencers, involved in drug trafficking. The changing tactics of traffickers, resembling espionage networks, are posing challenges for authorities in combating drug smuggling in Kerala.
