The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is an Indian federal law enforcement and intelligence institution operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the central agency tasked with combating drug trafficking and the abuse of illegal substances across India. The NCB was formally constituted on March 17, 1986, under Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Its creation was necessitated by the need for a centralized mechanism to enforce the stringent provisions of the new NDPS Act and to fulfill India's international treaty obligations concerning drug control.
The NCB primarily works by enforcing the NDPS Act, 1985, and coordinating actions with various authorities under the Customs Act, 1962, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. NCB officers are empowered under Section 53 of the NDPS Act to exercise police-like powers, including arrest and seizure, and can summon any person for inquiry under Section 67 of the Act. The agency is also connected to the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988, which allows for preventive detention. The national policy on narcotics is fundamentally guided by the Directive Principles in Article 47 of the Indian Constitution.
Recently, the NCB's strategy has undergone a significant shift, outlined in the Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029). The core focus is moving from targeting individual drug carriers to dismantling entire organized drug trafficking networks, including suppliers, financiers, and cartels. This new approach involves mandatory financial investigations in major cases and enhanced use of the PITNDPS Act. Furthermore, the government is working to amend the NDPS Act to close loopholes and make it more effective against organized narco syndicates. The NCB also launched Operation WIPE (Web-based Illicit Activities Prevention & Enforcement) to target the illegal online sale of pharmaceutical drugs.