Investigations into multiple narcotics cases across India, particularly in the southern states, have increasingly traced supply chains to cartels operating out of Thailand, enforcement officials said. Agencies report that these networks have expanded their footprint over the past few years, using coastal routes and digital tools to widen their reach, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands emerging as a key transit point.
Officials say Thai cartels have established significant influence in parts of South India, where demand for synthetic and party drugs has surged. Though Thailand remains a major consumption market, investigations reveal that several cartels based there are actively conducting business in India. In many instances, the operations are not managed by Thai nationals but are allegedly handled by Indian operatives coordinating activities from abroad.
A recent crackdown by the Narcotics Control Wing of the Central Crime Branch under the Bengaluru Police led to the arrest of two interstate drug peddlers identified as Ashwin and Mubeena. The duo, originally from Kerala and residing in Karnataka for the past year, were allegedly distributing LSD strips and charas across the state. Police said they operated under instructions from handlers based in Thailand and sourced drugs through a Kerala-linked operative stationed there. After receiving consignments, they distributed them within Karnataka, according to preliminary findings.
Officials also pointed to a sharp escalation in narcotics cases in Kerala. Data shows that in 2024 alone, more than 27,700 cases were registered in the state under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. During the same period, the number of cases in Punjab was significantly lower, with Kerala recording nearly three times as many cases. Authorities said that while Punjab earlier faced the brunt of the drug crisis, the epicentre has gradually shifted southward.
Intelligence inputs indicate that Pakistan-based operatives continue to focus on northern India, whereas syndicates linked to Mexico, China and Thailand are increasingly targeting southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Drugs smuggled from Mexico with assistance from Chinese cartels and Myanmar nationals reportedly contain methamphetamine, a substance witnessing high demand in southern markets.
A substantial portion of consignments landing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is reportedly moved onward to southern states before being transported to other parts of India and even to Myanmar. Investigators describe the islands as a strategic waypoint in the trafficking chain due to their geographic position.
From Thailand, commonly trafficked substances include LSD, charas and cocaine. Officials state that Kerala’s 590-kilometre coastline has made it a preferred landing point for India-bound consignments. From there, drugs are channelled into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The spread is not confined to the south. Authorities in Pune recently dismantled a module with links to Thailand and Bhutan. Five persons were arrested in connection with an international drug network that allegedly used the dark web, cryptocurrency and hawala channels to procure LSD and marijuana from Thailand for distribution in Pune, Assam and Bhutan.
An Intelligence Bureau official said the Indian drug market has grown increasingly fragmented, with multiple international players now active. Agencies are coordinating with state counterparts to curb the inflow and dismantle networks attempting to flood domestic markets with contraband.
