India and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation against illicit narcotics trafficking following the second India-US Drug Policy Executive Working Group Meeting held in New Delhi on 2-3 November.

Hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the meeting brought together a broad range of policymakers and law enforcement officials from both countries involved in counter-narcotics efforts.

The Indian delegation was led by NCB Director General Anurag Garg, while the United States delegation was headed by Debbie Seguin, Acting Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

Held under the framework of the US-India Drug Policy Framework, the discussions reviewed ongoing bilateral cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and identified key areas for further collaboration. These included intelligence sharing, coordinated law enforcement operations, precursor chemical control, pharmaceutical supply chain security and initiatives aimed at reducing drug demand.

In his opening remarks, Anurag Garg highlighted India's Vision Roadmap 2026-2029, developed under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The roadmap sets out a comprehensive strategy to tackle the illegal narcotics trade through network-centric investigations, tighter precursor control mechanisms, financial investigations, preventive measures and rehabilitation initiatives.

Garg also underlined India's increasing focus on a network-centric enforcement model designed to dismantle entire drug trafficking ecosystems. The approach targets not only traffickers but also financiers, suppliers, facilitators and logistical networks that enable the trade.

Emphasising the importance of international collaboration, ONDCP Director Sara Carter stated that the Executive Working Group and broader bilateral cooperation are essential to disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks and preventing synthetic drugs and chemical precursors from entering global markets.

She said, "The Executive Working Group and bilateral cooperation between the United States and India is vital to disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks and preventing the diversion of synthetic drugs and chemical precursors into global markets."




Linking the issue to Washington's wider anti-drug strategy, Carter added, "Under President Trump's 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, we recognise that the criminal networks and foreign terrorist organisations we face today operate like sophisticated, multinational logistics enterprises. To defeat an adversary built like a global business, our strategy must be equally targeted: we must partner across borders to secure the commercial supply chains they exploit."




Highlighting the operational results achieved through the partnership, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stressed that cooperation was delivering tangible outcomes.




He stated, "President Trump has been clear: protecting our people starts with securing our borders and cutting off illicit drug networks at the source. India and the United States aren't just talking about cooperation; we are delivering real operational results—choking off illicit precursor chemicals, securing commercial supply chains, and dismantling the cartels that exploit them. When our two law enforcement communities coordinate with this level of speed and trust, we protect American and Indian families alike."

The meeting built upon the outcomes of the inaugural Executive Working Group session held in Washington, DC, in January 2026. Officials reviewed current trafficking patterns, assessed emerging narcotics threats and exchanged views on evolving criminal methodologies.

Both sides welcomed progress made through joint and national initiatives, including Operation MedMax, Operation WIPE and India's Voluntary Code of Conduct aimed at preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs.

The discussions underscored the need for sustained institutional engagement, rapid intelligence-sharing mechanisms and coordinated responses to emerging narcotics challenges. Delegates also agreed to expand the exchange of best practices across a range of targeted law enforcement areas.

The meeting concluded with both countries reaffirming their long-term commitment to strengthening counter-narcotics cooperation and enhancing the safety, security and well-being of their communities.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy continues to lead and coordinate United States drug policy, oversee implementation of the President's National Drug Control Strategy and support communities through the Drug Free Communities Support and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives.

ANI