Sri Vijaya Puram, November 4: Indian intelligence agencies have reportedly uncovered a suspected transnational narcotics network linking Mexican drug cartels, the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate and insurgent groups operating in Myanmar and India’s Northeast, with investigators suspecting attempts to use the region as a production and transit base for narcotics destined for international markets.
According to intelligence inputs cited by IANS, the emerging network is believed to be an attempt by criminal syndicates to overcome intensified enforcement operations in their traditional areas of operation. Investigators suspect that the groups are exploring a collaborative arrangement to source precursor chemicals, manufacture synthetic drugs and move consignments through international smuggling routes.
An Intelligence Bureau official told IANS that the earlier pattern of international cartels operating within separate geographical jurisdictions appears to be changing, with criminal networks increasingly exploring partnerships.
The suspected arrangement involves Mexican cartels seeking access to precursor chemicals, including pseudoephedrine, used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Increased enforcement pressure in the United States has reportedly made procurement more difficult for these groups, prompting them to explore alternative supply routes through Myanmar and India’s Northeast.
Northeast Route
According to the intelligence inputs, Mexican cartels are suspected of establishing contacts with insurgent groups in Myanmar and India’s Northeast to facilitate the procurement and movement of precursor chemicals.
The alleged plan involves sourcing chemicals through Myanmar and moving them across porous border routes with the assistance of local networks. India could subsequently be used as a base for manufacturing narcotics before consignments are transported to markets in the United States and Europe.
Officials believe that the proposed arrangement could significantly complicate enforcement efforts by bringing together networks with different geographical reach and operational capabilities.
The alleged involvement of insurgent groups has also raised concerns about the potential use of narcotics proceeds to finance armed activities in the Northeast.
Dawood Network Link
Investigators are also examining suspected links between Mexican cartels and the D-Syndicate, the criminal network associated with fugitive underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim.
An intelligence official cited by IANS said intercepted communications had pointed towards possible direct links between Mexico’s Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Haji Salim, who is described in the report as managing the D-Syndicate’s operations in South India.
The official claimed that Salim’s network had suffered significant setbacks following enforcement operations and that cooperation with international cartels could be an attempt to recover lost ground.
The alleged association is being viewed as a potential expansion of the narcotics network beyond conventional trafficking arrangements, with officials warning that the proceeds could also support arms smuggling and other illegal activities.
Andaman Sea Seizure
The Andaman and Nicobar region figures prominently in the intelligence narrative because of a major narcotics seizure in November 2024.
On November 24, 2024, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a Myanmar-flagged fishing vessel in the Andaman Sea and seized approximately 6,016.87 kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated value of around Rs. 36,000 crore. The consignment was subsequently linked to the Mexican cartel CJNG, according to the IANS report.
The seizure was among the largest narcotics recoveries reported in the region and highlighted the vulnerability of maritime routes in the Bay of Bengal to international trafficking networks.
Two other major operations cited in the intelligence assessment include the seizure of 115 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately Rs. 1,150 crore, near the Mundra coast in Gujarat in May 2025. The operation was conducted jointly by the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad. Investigations reportedly traced the shipment’s origin to South America.
In September 2026, security agencies seized 524 kg of methamphetamine, valued at approximately Rs. 3,000 crore, in the Arabian Sea, around 160 nautical miles west-northwest of Lakshadweep. Five Pakistani nationals allegedly linked to Haji Salim were arrested following the operation.
Officials believe these major maritime seizures have dealt substantial financial setbacks to the networks involved, potentially encouraging cooperation between the D-Syndicate and international cartels to diversify trafficking routes and reduce the risk of losing large consignments.
Security Concerns
Beyond the movement of narcotics, intelligence officials have raised concerns about the possible use of drug-trafficking proceeds to finance arms procurement and activities of terror organisations and insurgent groups.
Pakistan-based drug networks are suspected of channelling illegal proceeds towards groups operating against India, while insurgent organisations in the Northeast could use similar funds to sustain their activities.
Officials believe the proposed cooperation could provide the participating networks with greater financial resources, wider international connections and access to alternative trafficking routes.
The suspected nexus presents a challenge that extends beyond conventional narcotics enforcement, particularly because of its potential intersection with cross-border crime, arms trafficking and national security.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the reported connection to the November 2024 seizure underscores the strategic importance of maritime surveillance and coordinated enforcement across the surrounding waters. The region’s position along important maritime routes makes vigilance against international trafficking networks particularly significant.
While the alleged links and proposed operational arrangements remain based on intelligence inputs cited by IANS, the scale of the seizures and the reported involvement of international networks highlight the continuing challenge of preventing the region’s maritime and land routes from being exploited for organised criminal activity.
