New Delhi: Official data presented in Parliament has revealed that India’s private ports, particularly in Gujarat, have been key targets for international narcotics trafficking networks over the past five years. Among them, Mundra Port recorded the highest number of drug seizure incidents between 2021 and 2025.
Information shared in the Rajya Sabha showed that 18 major drug seizures were recorded at ports across the country during this period. Out of these, eight incidents occurred in Gujarat alone. Facilities linked to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and container freight stations at Mundra together accounted for five of the seizures, more than any other port location in India.
The largest single seizure during the period took place in September 2021 at Mundra Port, where the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence confiscated 2,988 kilograms of heroin concealed in cargo. Another frequently targeted location was Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, which was linked to six separate seizures, including a case in September 2022 when Delhi Police intercepted 345 kilograms of heroin connected to port cargo.
Across 2021 and 2022 alone, heroin seizures at Indian ports amounted to approximately 4,159 kilograms, highlighting the scale of trafficking attempts through maritime routes.
Authorities also reported a shift in the type of drugs being smuggled by 2024. Two separate operations at container freight stations in Mundra led to the seizure of a combined 94.19 lakh tramadol tablets. In addition, 1,000 tramadol injections were recovered at a facility in Kolkata Port. Tramadol, a prescription opioid, has increasingly been trafficked to markets in West Africa and the Middle East.
Responding to the data, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that the rising number of seizures reflects stronger enforcement and better coordination among agencies. Authorities credited joint efforts by central and state law enforcement bodies, along with maritime security forces including the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy.
The government also highlighted the establishment of the Multi Agency Maritime Security Group in November 2021 to strengthen coastal surveillance. However, official records indicate that 2025 has so far reported no port related drug seizures in the national database after four consecutive years of major busts.
