- According to the Narcotics Control Bureau Annual Report 2025, the Golden Triangle has overtaken the Golden Crescent as India’s primary narcotics challenge.
- The Golden Triangle comprises Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, while the Golden Crescent includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
- Illicit opium cultivation in Myanmar increased by about 56% between 2021 and 2023, while cultivation in Afghanistan declined sharply following strict enforcement measures.
- India’s eastern borders have become increasingly vulnerable to drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle. Reflecting this trend, Assam recorded the highest seizure of opium and morphine in Northeast India in 2025.
APSC Relevance: Drug Trafficking; Internal Security
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