NCB dismantles drug network as crackdown on illegal foreign residents planned

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled a drug trafficking network that involved foreign nationals illegally overstaying in India, officials said. The operation represents a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb transnational drug smuggling operations exploiting visa violations and immigration loopholes.

In response to the findings, the NCB is preparing to launch an intensive nationwide campaign called "Trinetra" beginning next month. The fortnight-long drive will be conducted in close coordination with state and local police forces as well as immigration authorities to systematically identify and locate foreigners who have exceeded their visa validity periods.

The multi-agency initiative aims to identify overstaying foreign nationals and initiate appropriate legal action against those found to be engaged in illegal activities. Officials expect the coordinated approach will strengthen enforcement at the intersection of immigration law and narcotics control, closing gaps that trafficking networks have exploited.

The operation underscores growing concerns about the use of visa violations as a cover for international drug smuggling operations in South Asia. Indian authorities have increasingly focused on disrupting the nexus between immigration violations and drug trafficking, particularly involving organized networks operating across borders.