The two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting 2026 commenced in Guwahati on Monday, with delegates from BRICS member countries calling for stronger international cooperation to tackle the growing threat of drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the meeting has brought together the heads of anti-drug agencies from BRICS nations for the first time in India.
Addressing the inaugural session, Director General of the NCB Anurag Garg, who is leading the Indian delegation, said the expansion of BRICS has enhanced the grouping’s ability to address global challenges such as narcotics trafficking and drug abuse.
He noted that modern drug trafficking networks increasingly operate through darknet marketplaces, synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances, cryptocurrencies and maritime routes, making international coordination more important than ever.
To strengthen cooperation, Garg proposed the creation of a dedicated BRICS Virtual Working Group to facilitate regular intelligence sharing, analysis of emerging trafficking trends and coordination of joint law enforcement operations. He also highlighted India’s zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, stating that the country remains committed to strict enforcement as well as rehabilitation and demand-reduction measures.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Lucas Barbosa, Focal Point at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked India for hosting the event and praised the long-standing cooperation among BRICS countries in combating drug trafficking.
“We are very pleased to be here in Guwahati, Assam, and are thankful to the Indian Chair for the hospitality. The BRICS anti-drug working group has a long history of cooperation, and we intend to further strengthen collaboration in law enforcement and intelligence sharing. Drug trafficking is a transnational threat that requires coordinated action by all member countries,” Barbosa said.
Garg told reporters that drug abuse has become an international scourge affecting youth across nations and stressed that no country can tackle the menace alone. He said the discussions during the two-day meeting are aimed at strengthening cooperation among BRICS countries to counter evolving drug trafficking networks and reinforce global efforts against narcotics.
