CDSCO cracks down on pharma’s illegal detour

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is implementing regulatory reforms to curb the illicit diversion of pharmaceutical drugs containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. This initiative emerged after the 10th apex level National Committee for Coordination on Drug Trafficking (NCORD) meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June.

The CDSCO was directed to address regulatory gaps to control drug diversion by March 2027, as part of the 2026-2029 drug control vision document. This document outlines a coordinated framework to tackle evolving drug trafficking and abuse, assigning the CDSCO a pivotal role in preventing the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs containing narcotics and psychotropic substances.

The CDSCO has been tasked with identifying and rectifying regulatory gaps to control illegal pharma diversion by next year. The matter is now before the drugs consultative committee (DCC), which will assess if gaps in the existing framework or its implementation are contributing to drug diversion. The committee's recommendations will guide the CDSCO in formulating an action plan.

NCORD chairperson Shah stressed the growing use of encrypted communication, darknet platforms, cryptocurrencies, synthetic drugs, and drones by organized criminal networks, emphasizing that the illicit drug ecosystem has become an organized, tech-enabled, and transnational criminal enterprise. He underscored the need for a tech-driven and intelligence-led strategy, including supply reduction, demand reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, and capacity building, to counter these emerging threats.