New Delhi — The Governments of India and the United States convened in New Delhi from October 23-24 for the fifth annual meeting of the U.S.-India Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG), marking a significant step in the countries’ joint efforts to tackle drug trafficking and enhance drug policy cooperation. This year’s meeting builds on a pledge by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepen the US-India bilateral drug policy partnership, a commitment made during Modi’s June 2023 State Visit to the United States. In a critical recent development, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2024, launching a US-India Drug Policy Framework for the 21st Century.
Officials have outlined a comprehensive approach in the new framework, advancing collaboration through three primary pillars: countering illicit drug production and trafficking, fostering a sustainable public health approach, and enhancing the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Director General Anurag Garg and Deputy Director Monika Ashish Batra of India’s Narcotics Control Bureau opened the CNWG meeting. US. Director of National Drug Control Policy Dr. Rahul Gupta and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti also addressed the assembly. The US delegation, led by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, included representatives from agencies such as the National Security Council, the Department of State, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration.
India’s delegation, led by the Narcotics Control Bureau, comprised officials from various ministries, including the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
The work plans outlined during the meeting are intended to target synthetic drug production and trafficking, address emerging public health challenges tied to drug misuse, and strengthen the security and resilience of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The CNWG serves as a platform to further the United States and India’s collaborative goals and to confront challenges posed by the evolving global drug trade. Both countries emphasized their commitment to addressing drug-related issues through shared intelligence, policy coordination, and cross-agency cooperation.
