Recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) attained a significant breakthrough with the arrest of the first ‘darknet’ narcotics operative under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This marks a pivotal moment in India’s fight against drug trafficking and unlawful activities conducted via the darknet.
Understanding the Darknet
Often associated with nefarious activities, the darknet serves as an obscured platform for the illicit exchange of goods and services. This includes the sale of narcotics, the distribution of pornographic content, and other illegal dealings. This hidden corner of the internet is accessed through an onion router (ToR), free open-source software designed to enable anonymous communication. It provides a sense of invisibility to its users by shielding their activities from the surveillance of law enforcement agencies. This secure environment is fortified by end-to-end encryption, which makes it difficult for law enforcement to crack.
The Role of Cryptocurrency
Operators on the darknet often resort to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoins and Litecoin for transactions. These digital currencies offer anonymity, making transactions almost invisible to regulatory agencies. The use of such payment gateways adds another layer of protection for the illegal transactions taking place.
‘Operation Trance’
The NCB’s recent arrest forms part of the larger ‘Operation Trance’, a global initiative launched in December 2019. This operation involves coordinated intelligence-gathering focused on international postal, express mail, and courier shipments that contain psychotropic drugs. These substances, usually accessible only via doctor’s prescription, are often misused as sedatives and painkillers.
About the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Established by the Government of India in 1986, the NCB functions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. It is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, entrusted with the control of drug abuse. The National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which the NCB upholds, is derived from Article 47 of the Indian Constitution. This article instructs the State to endeavor to prevent the consumption of harmful intoxicating drugs, excluding medicinal purposes.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
The NDPS Act serves as a robust legislative tool in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. One of its key features is the provision for property penalties related to illegal narcotics trafficking. It also mandates the establishment of a Central Authority, responsible for exercising the Central Government’s powers and functions under the Act. This legislation provides the legal framework within which agencies like the NCB operate.