Adani Drug Controversy: Gujarat Ports Under Scrutiny

#News Bureau, August 29,2025

Over the last five years, Gujarat’s ports have become central to the Adani Group drug controversy and India’s battle against drug trafficking. According to recent data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, authorities seized drugs worth ₹11,300 crore from ports nationwide between 2020 and 2024. Shockingly, about 65% — nearly ₹7,383 crore — came from Gujarat’s ports alone.

Gujarat Ports and the Scale of Drug Seizures

Adani Group’s Mundra Port saw the largest share of seizures. Officials confiscated drugs worth ₹6,386 crore there. This data was officially presented in the Rajya Sabha, exposing the growing scale of illegal drug operations via port routes. Despite enhanced security and surveillance, traffickers continue exploiting Gujarat’s coastline. This situation raises serious questions about port-level monitoring and private terminal accountability.

Why Adani Group’s Mundra Port Is Under Scrutiny for Drug Trafficking

Mundra Port has become synonymous with drug trafficking in India. Narcotics smuggling cases linked to this private port are on the rise.

One major factor is Gujarat’s nearly 1,600-kilometer coastline — the longest in India. This vast maritime boundary and high cargo volume help traffickers hide contraband within legitimate shipments.

Mundra, India’s largest private port, is operated by the Adani Group. It handles massive cargo volumes daily, providing cover for illegal goods to pass undetected.

Additionally, Mundra lies on the strategic Gulf of Kutch, a historic trade hub connecting key https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_lane international shipping routes across the Arabian Sea.

Drug traffickers exploit these global channels, hiding narcotics in import-export consignments. The port’s scale challenges enforcement agencies, despite constant surveillance.

Why Is Surveillance So Weak at Adani’s Mundra Port?

Agencies like the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, and Gujarat ATS actively monitor the port. Still, smugglers find ways to slip through.

Thousands of containers arrive daily at Mundra Port, making thorough inspections difficult. Traffickers often conceal narcotics inside legal goods like talcum powder or chemicals.

In 2021, authorities caught a record 3,000 kg of heroin disguised as talcum powder. Shipping insiders regularly raise concerns on social media, claiming weak surveillance. Most containers reportedly go unchecked.

Organized Cartels and Northern Drug Routes

International cartels and organized crime syndicates heavily traffic drugs through Indian ports. Gujarat’s ports, especially Mundra, act as entry points for narcotics destined for North India — especially Delhi and Punjab.

Despite repeated seizures, enforcement agencies struggle to dismantle these networks. Questions linger about who shields these operations and why crackdowns fail.

Terror Links and Narco-Funding and Political Silence

NIA investigations link some drug consignments to terror financing. Funds from drugs seized at Mundra trace to Pakistani terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba. This narco-terror connection raises national security concerns, showing trafficking is geopolitical.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, accuse some BJP leaders or associates of shielding drug operations. However, these claims lack solid evidence. More telling is the ruling party’s silence — the BJP neither denies data nor challenges allegations, fueling speculation.

The Adani Group, operator of Mundra Port, claims it acts only as a port operator. Container inspections fall to customs and central agencies like the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Still, repeated drug seizures have damaged the Adani Group’s public image. This raises questions about private port governance and national security.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Global Heroin Trail

Afghanistan supplies over 80% of the world’s heroin, much of which reaches India. The ₹21,000 crore heroin seizure at Mundra Port in 2021 traced back to Afghanistan. Similarly, large-scale narcotics also enter from Pakistan. This confirms India’s western ports as key nodes in the global heroin trade..