International Cooperation Against Drugs

India follows a policy of extending all possible assistance to the concerned authorities in foreign countries and international organizations with a view to facilitating co-ordination of activities for the prevention and suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

India is a signatory to all the international UN Drug Conventions, namely, the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1972 Protocol amending the Single Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

In order to provide assistance and facilitate co-ordination with foreign agencies, the following activities are carried out:

•    Regular interaction takes place with officers of various agencies in respect of drug related matters. This interaction extends to sharing of intelligence, conducting investigations and assistance in judicial proceedings. This coordination is through Drug Liaison Officers (DLOs) of various countries ( USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany ) who are posted in India or assigned to India while being stationed in other countries like those of Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Israel etc.

•    Drug related intelligence and information is shared with countries with which India has bilateral agreements or MoUs.

•    Contact is maintained with the concerned agencies of countries which are sensitive to drug trafficking.

International cooperation in drug related matters has resulted in a number of joint operations, assistance in follow up action, conduct of inquires and extending of assistance in prosecution of offenders.

During the year 2006, two successful Controlled Delivery operations were carried out with the concerned authorities in USA and Israel.

India has entered into bilateral agreements on drug related matters which provide for mutual cooperation with Afghanistan ( 1990), Bangladesh (2006), Bulgaria (1994), China (2005), Cambodia ( 2005 ), Egypt (1995), Italy (1998), Israel ( 2003 ), Laos ( 2002 ), Myanmar (1993), Mauritius (1990), Poland ( 2003 ), Russian Federation (1993), Romania (1994), Turkey (1998), Tajikistan (2001), United States of America (1990), U.A.E. (1994) and Zambia (1993).

India has bilateral arrangements with its neighbours including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh. With Pakistan, India holds regular DG level, as also quarterly and bi-annual meetings. India and Myanmar hold sectoral and cross-border meetings to assess the drug situation and discuss specific problems of trafficking and related activities. Meaningful liaison on drug related matters is also maintained with several other countries from multilateral platforms like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Pentalateral Cooperation on Drug Control.

In addition, India has signed extradition treaties, mutual legal assistance agreements and other specific agreements to combat terrorism and organized crime. Extradition treaties exist with Bhutan, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Nepal, UK and USA; Mutual Legal Assistance treaties have been signed with Canada, Switzerland, Turkey and UK. Agreements with Bulgaria, Egypt, Russia, Romania are aimed at combating international terrorism, organized crime, illegal economic activities and include illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.