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as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! New Delhi: Trafficking of synthetic drugs such as ATS, MDMA has seen nearly six-fold increase since 2019, Narcotics Control Bureau has observed in its annual report released on Tuesday. In 2024, 11,994 kg of synthetic drugs were seized as against 1,890 kg in 2019. The sharp rise is primarily driven by high profitability and increase in market demand for these substances, NCB has said in its 120-page report.The report notes that use of courier, bitcoins, crypto currency and dark web has increased since Covid-19 pandemic. Courier, parcel and postal services have made it easier and convenient to maintain anonymity. "The emergence of darknet and cryptocurrency-based transactions has significantly transformed drug trafficking by providing traffickers with enhanced anonymity and global accessibility," the report says.In 2024, nine clandestine laboratories involved in illicit manufacturing of Methamphetamine and Mephedrone were dismantled by various drug law enforcement agencies (DLEA). In 2024, DLEA registered 96,930 cases across the country. As part of these operations, 122,224 individuals were arrested, including foreign nationals. In 2024, NCB registered 417 cases and arrested 588 accused as compared to 375 cases and 574 arrested in 2023, the report said.The report noted that India's strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region positions it as a key transit hub for Afghan Heroin trafficked via the southern route. The death crescent remains the primary source of Heroin, ATS and Hashish entering the country through the western coast while the death triangle serves as the main supplier of synthetic drugs, particularly Methamphetamine smuggled through India's eastern coast. Major ports used by traffickers for loading the drugs include Chabahar (Iran), Gwadar and Karachi (Pakistan). National Investigation Agency has registered 18 cases under PIT-NDPS Act (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) and has started 360-degree investigation.