Guwahati Declaration: BRICS Pledges Joint Action Against Drug Trafficking
The BRICS nations have adopted the Guwahati Declaration, a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to coordinated efforts against illicit drug trafficking. The declaration was issued at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies in Guwahati, Assam, held under India's BRICS chairmanship on July 7, 2026.
The declaration calls for enhanced real-time information sharing and best practices consistent with national laws and international obligations. It also promotes the use of innovative technologies, digital tools, and data-driven methods to strengthen law enforcement and regulatory actions against drug trafficking.
Key points of the declaration include closer cooperation among BRICS members to tackle the evolving nature of illicit drug trafficking. The nations expressed concern over the growth of synthetic drugs and New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), diversion of precursor chemicals, misuse of emerging technologies, virtual assets, and digital platforms, and exploitation of maritime routes by transnational criminal syndicates.
The countries stressed the need for specialised initiatives to reduce drug demand, promote healthy lifestyles, and protect vulnerable groups—especially children and youth—through evidence-based, comprehensive, and people-centred approaches.
The declaration is significant as India has intensified its anti-drug campaign. On June 26, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled “The Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029)” at the 10th apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
The roadmap is built on the principles of “detect, disrupt, and destroy”. It offers a time-bound national strategy to dismantle the narcotics ecosystem by cracking down on trafficking, drug abuse, illicit finance, and organised criminal networks. The plan targets identifying and dismantling 100 major inter-State and transnational cartels.
The policy aims to unify over 40 ministries, central agencies, state governments, district administrations, educational institutions, civil society organisations, and citizens under a common national framework. It recommends advanced surveillance systems, anti-drone technologies, AI-enabled profiling, container scanning, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration to improve interdiction across land, sea, and air trafficking routes. Rehabilitation of victims affected by drug abuse and trafficking is also a focus.
At the BRICS meeting, India proposed building a partnership based on speed, mutual trust, and seamless intelligence sharing for decisive action. NCB Director-General Anurag Garg, leading the Indian delegation, highlighted India’s zero-tolerance approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Garg noted that 21st-century drug trafficking is hyper-connected and jurisdiction-less, requiring anti-drug agencies to build capacity to disrupt transnational syndicates. He urged BRICS countries to carry forward the spirit of the Guwahati Declaration towards a drug-free world. India also proposed a BRICS Virtual Working Group and enhanced cross-border training initiatives.
During the meeting, member nations discussed their domestic drug situations and shared strategies. They deliberated on leveraging digital technology for real-time drug interdiction, countering drug trafficking through the darknet, and other emerging challenges.
