India Proposes BRICS Virtual Working Group to Combat Drug Trafficking

India hosted a two-day summit of the heads of anti-drug agencies from BRICS member countries in Guwahati, Assam, on July 6–7, 2026. Organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau, the meeting aimed to shift international cooperation from dialogue toward action-oriented collaboration to combat synthetic drugs, New Psychoactive Substances, and the diversion of precursor chemicals.

During the summit, Director General Anurag Garg proposed the establishment of a dedicated BRICS Virtual Working Group. This platform would enable member states to exchange real-time intelligence, analyze trafficking patterns, and coordinate joint law enforcement operations to dismantle transnational syndicates. Garg detailed India's 2026–2029 roadmap and a "zero tolerance" policy that focuses on the financial starvation of drug networks through asset forfeiture while maintaining harm-reduction models for victims.

Discussions centered on the exploitation of maritime routes, cryptocurrency-based financial flows, and darknet markets. Representatives from Brazil, Russia, Ethiopia, and other member nations emphasized the necessity of sharing best practices and intelligence to counter the socio-economic impacts of drugs. The summit concluded on July 7 with the adoption of the Guwahati Declaration, which reaffirms the collective commitment of BRICS nations to use innovative digital tools and data-driven law enforcement to fight transnational organized crime.