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Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

Mandate and Powers

The NCB is the apex central agency for drug law enforcement in India, established under the NDPS Act with effect from March 1986.

Key details
  • Statutory basis: NDPS Act, 1985 (Section 4); NCB functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Mandate: Coordinate action by all Central and State enforcement agencies; implement India's obligations under international drug conventions (UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961; Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971; UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic, 1988)
  • Powers: Arrest, search, seizure without warrant in certain conditions; attachment of drug proceeds; international cooperation with INTERPOL and foreign NCBs
  • NCB works alongside Customs, Central Excise, BSF, State Police, and CRPF for multi-agency enforcement
  • Conducts periodic operations targeting trafficking corridors; Northeast India is a designated high-priority zone
In the news

Tracked since March 05, 2026 · last seen July 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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