India’s security forces are ramping up their fight against drug smuggling after Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued tough orders to state and Union Territory anti-narcotics teams. Central agencies have stepped up their efforts in recent months, and it’s already paying off with big busts.
A key target? The notorious Dawood Ibrahim syndicate, which still runs a huge part of the drug trade on Indian soil. This network doesn’t just peddle narcotics—it funnels profits straight into terror activities across India. Experts say at least 80% of terror funding comes from Dawood’s operations, putting massive pressure on him to keep the cash flowing, especially as Pakistan’s ISI plots more attacks.
Faced with India’s crackdown, Dawood’s gang is scrambling to adapt. They’re reaching out to drug cartels in South Africa, where Dawood already has strong ties, and now Mexico for a fresh boost. Mexico’s cartels can ship massive quantities of drugs, making them a game-changer for smuggling into India.
The first big clue of Mexican involvement surfaced on November 25, when the Indian Coast Guard nabbed a huge drug haul from a fishing trawler near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian agencies know Dawood’s old tricks inside out after years of chasing them. But these new players bring different tactics and unknown local contacts, which makes things tricky.
Reports suggest Dawood is linking up with Mexican drug lord El Mencho to target India. While his gang sticks to familiar routes like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Gujarat, the Mexican networks aim to flood southern India with narcotics.
Pakistan’s ISI is pulling strings too, enlisting figures like Haji Salim, who runs ops from Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan, and Salim Dola, based in Turkey. Dola specializes in making and smuggling synthetic drugs like mephedrone. The ISI wants Dawood to partner with cartels from China and Mexico, creating multiple smuggling paths to keep drugs pouring in.
Managing all these threats stretches India’s resources thin, but officials say they’re on high alert. The ISI has grown bolder lately, aiming to hit India from new borders like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, much like they did in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. With fake Indian currency schemes fading, narcotics have become their top funding source for these plots.
This all traces back to 1993, when Dawood fled to Pakistan after the Mumbai blasts. He struck a deal for protection: hand over 60% of his drug profits from Afghanistan to fuel terror. For Dawood, keeping the narcotics trade alive isn’t just business—it’s his ticket to safety in Pakistan.
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