A synthetic drug lab doesn’t need sprawling fields or hidden smuggling routes. It can fit inside an apartment, operating with only precursor chemicals, an internet connection, and a discreet supply chain. The modern drug trade has evolved, and Haryana — a State that has long fought against heroin, poppy husk, and cannabis — is now preparing for the next phase of this battle.
Unlike traditional narcotics, synthetic drugs do not require international smuggling networks. With access to the right precursor chemicals, traffickers can manufacture methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other synthetic opioids without needing to move shipments across borders. These drugs are transported in legitimate pharmaceutical consignments, disguised as industrial chemicals, or ordered anonymously through dark web marketplaces. Haryana, with its growing pharmaceutical industry and major transport corridors, is particularly vulnerable to this new wave of drug trafficking.
Recognising the urgency of this crisis, the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) has designated its Ambala Unit as the Anti-Synthetic Narcotics Task Force, a dedicated team focused on tracking synthetic drug networks, monitoring precursor chemicals, and dismantling hidden production labs. Meanwhile, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Haryana is preparing for a technological overhaul, ensuring that law enforcement can detect, analyse, and prosecute synthetic drug cases with forensic precision.
Synthetic drugs rely on precursor chemicals, which are legally manufactured for pharmaceutical and industrial use but are frequently diverted into illegal production. Unlike heroin or cannabis, which require extensive supply chains, synthetic drugs can be produced anywhere if traffickers secure access to these chemicals.
Haryana is developing a real-time precursor tracking system to counter this and monitor transactions involving high-risk chemicals such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and acetic anhydride. HSNCB’s Anti-Synthetic Narcotics Task Force is closely coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure every transaction is logged, analysed, and flagged if irregularities arise. Plans are in place to introduce automated alerts for large or unusual chemical purchases, ensuring that enforcement agencies receive real-time notifications before these substances reach underground drug labs.
Tracking the money
Traditional drug traffickers relied on cash transactions and informal money transfers, but synthetic drug cartels have shifted to cryptocurrency, structured digital payments, and encrypted financial networks.
Haryana is in the process of integrating AI-driven financial surveillance systems to monitor drug-related money movements. These systems will be designed to analyse transactions for patterns linked to synthetic drug sales, identifying structured deposits, bulk payments, and laundering techniques often used by traffickers. HSNCB plans to incorporate Chainalysis Reactor, a globally recognised cryptocurrency forensic tool, to trace illicit drug payments hidden within blockchain transactions.
Unlike traditional narcotics, synthetic drugs are constantly evolving, with traffickers tweaking their chemical formulas to evade detection. To keep up, Haryana’s Forensic Science Laboratory is preparing for a significant upgrade.
Also, FSL is developing an Early Warning System (EWS) for synthetic drugs.
Synthetic drugs represent a completely new model of drug production, distribution, and consumption. Traffickers no longer rely on fields, borders, and street-level transactions. Instead, they use precursor chemicals, digital financial networks, and encrypted supply chains.
The writer is DGP and Head, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau; Director, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Haryana
