India: UNODC strengthens law enforcement responses to address the drug problem with capacity building and knowledge sharing

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Pune (Maharashtra), India/19 May 2023: South Asia grapples with a multitude of challenges related to drug trafficking, encompassing the production, transit, and consumption of illicit drugs. These challenges have far-reaching implications for regional security, health, and overall stability. To effectively combat this transnational crime, it is vital to enhance the capabilities and expertise of law enforcement officials.

UNODC's capacity building initiatives play a crucial role in equipping these officials with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively counter drug trafficking. Through these initiatives, law enforcement officials are empowered to detect, investigate, and dismantle drug trafficking networks, bolstering their ability to identify and disrupt the illicit drug trade. Additionally, they are better equipped to prevent drug-related crimes and apprehend key individuals involved in such activities.

Over the past few years, UNODC has worked closely with the Government of India, offering research, technical support, and capacity building initiatives to synergize ongoing efforts in combatting drug trafficking. Continuing these efforts, two five-day capacity building workshops were convened in June—the first in Pune in collaboration with the Centre for Police Research (Pune) and the other in Lucknow in collaboration with the Jagjivan Ram RPF Academy (Lucknow). The trainings enhanced the knowledge of officers of anti-narcotics task force, Maharashtra Police and Customs officers of Pune Zone (including Goa), and 400 personnel of the Railway Protection Force from all states of India.

The trainings focused on four crucial pillars: understanding and implementing the NDPS ACT and related laws, financial investigations related to drug seizure cases and property attachment, the use of cyberspace for drug trafficking (including social media, darknet markets, and cryptocurrencies), and cyber security and digital forensics. The comprehensive program consisted of twenty interactive sessions, covering a wide range of topics related to narcotics control.

The training provided participants with practical knowledge and skills to prevent and counter the evolving challenges of drug trafficking in the digital age. To facilitate hands-on learning, the trainees were provided with password-protected software on pen drives, allowing them to simulate virtual machines and gain experience in a safe environment by accessing darknet markets.

The training received positive feedback from the participants, who recommended the need for longer-duration trainings, more intensive sessions focusing on darknet markets, open-source intelligence, social media, and cryptocurrency interdictions. They emphasized the importance of conducting regular trainings to stay updated on the latest changes in law and trends in narcotics trafficking.

UNODC continues to build on the discussions and interventions to strengthen cooperation with the Indian Government and law enforcement agencies in developing a comprehensive strategic framework to address the drug problem.

This activity contributed to SDG 3, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the Government of India)