Patterns and trends of amphetamine-type stimulants and other drugs ...

tion. Seizures of methamphetamine and amphetamine pills in India are predominantly made in
the northeast of the country, in the region bordering Myanmar which is also the source of these
products. ATS seizures in India for the past few years are as shown in Table 16 below. 7
Table 16. ATS seizures in India, 2004 – 2009
Drug type 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Methamphetamine pills (no. of pills) 15,131 6,739
Methamphetamine powder (kg) 10.6 46.1
Ecstasy (units/ kg) 90.1 3,540 pills 0.02 0.02
and 0.76
kg
Amphetamine tabs (units) 5,870
Amphetamine (kg) 8.4 4.6 67.9 2.4
No. of manufacture facilities seized 1 3 1 1 3*
= Not reported. * includes a seized illegal ephedrine manufacture facility.
Source: Narcotics Control Bureau, India
Over the past years several seizures of amphetamine and methamphetamine (both in pill and
powder form) have been made. Whereas amphetamine and methamphetamine pills are mostly
traf cked into the country from abroad, the powdered form is primarily manufactured in India.
Most ecstasy seizures are reported from Goa, a popular tourist destination located in southwest
India. The last signi cant ecstasy seizure outside Goa was recorded in 2004.
The low level of ATS seizures does not necessarily re ect the true situation of ATS traf cking as
the awareness of ATS remains low the among law enforcement agencies.
Cambodia, Canada, Spain, Taiwan Province of China and United Kingdom have been cited as
nal destinations of ATS. The Philippines has also been noted as a nal destination for seizures
of methamphetamine made at international airports in India. Traf cking by courier and postal
services has also been detected.
Nevertheless, even from the limited information, it is clear that India has become a traf cking
route as drug trafckers continue to build networks to and from the region.
Trafcking of methamphetamine precursors – ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
Along with China and Germany, India is among the world’s largest manufacturers of ephedrine
and pseudoephedrine. India was a leading exporter of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in 2008
according to Global Trade Information Services (GTIS), a leading supplier of international merchandise
trade data. 8
China and India are the two countries most often reported as sources of seized illicit shipments
of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (UNODC, 2008a). From India, consignments of these chemicals
have been trafcked from/via various regions including the Balkans, the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Pakistan, Philippines, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Africa. 9
India has been identied as a signicant source for shipments of precursor chemicals to newly
targeted countries in both Africa and Central America (INCSR, 2010). Several seizures made in
2008 and 2009 underscore the importance of India as a point of origin of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.
More than one metric ton (mt) of pseudoephedrine was seized in the United States in
August 2008, shipped by a company in India and destined for Central America. It is believed that
the nal destination was Mexico (USDHS, 2008).
Law enforcement agencies in India have also made signi cant seizures of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
over the last few years which conrm that there is diversion of these substances
from legitimate trade in spite of the strict controls imposed by the Government of India.
7
Monthly Drug Situation Reports of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India (NCB India).
8
India exported 188,967 kg of ephedrine and 462,761 kg of pseudoephedrine in 2008 (www.gtis.com).
9
Quarterly Report of Narcotics Bureau, Hong Kong Police for 4th quarter 2008.
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