Washington: President Donald Trump on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crackdown on opium production, even while India continues to feature on America’s roster of nations deemed “major illicit drug producing or drug transit” countries, ANI reported.
“I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity. I look forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework”, the US Department of State said in a statement.
India Among 23 On US Drug List
For 2027, the United States grouped India with Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela as significant hubs for illicit drug manufacture or transit.
American officials stressed that appearing on the list is not an indictment of a government’s anti-drug resolve. Instead, the designation reflects geographic, trade and economic realities that render certain countries natural conduits or production centres, regardless of how stringent and active their anti-narcotics operations may be.
‘Historic Progress’ Against Cartels: Trump
Meanwhile, Trump highlighted what he termed “historic progress” by his administration in confronting drug trafficking networks and narcoterrorist groups.
He cited enhanced border security, a steep fall in drug seizures and a drop in overdose fatalities as proof of the gains made.
Trump contended that after four years of what he termed “open border chaos”, seizures of narcotics along the US southern border had dropped by over half. He further asserted that overdose fatalities had “plunged”, crediting his administration with saving tens of thousands of American lives.
“The narco-terrorists responsible for this invasion are either dead, in jail, or living in fear knowing they will be next to face American justice,” Trump said.
Trump said the US military is “unleashed” to hit narco-terrorists should they pose a threat to America.
Trump further stated that American law enforcement agencies had recorded “record drug seizures”, while allied nations were extraditing more cartel bosses to the US than at any previous time.
“We have inflicted unprecedented losses on our enemies, and we are just getting started,” Trump said.
