Op Med Max: India-led global crackdown unravels transnational drug network

The Indian agency Narcotics Control Bureau, which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), played a pivotal role in a global anti-drug operation, "Operation Med Max" that was launched in May 2025 and which is being termed as one of the most far-reaching international crackdowns on a tech-driven drug trafficking syndicate distributing controlled pharmaceutical substances like Tramadol and Zolpidem across Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Operation Med Max spanned four continents—Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia—and involved law enforcement cooperation across at least seven confirmed countries: India, the United States, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Spain, and Switzerland. While the core operations were centred in India, the syndicate's supply chains and delivery networks extended into North America, Europe, and Oceania. Intelligence inputs and investigative coordination point to the likelihood of additional, unnamed jurisdictions being involved, particularly within Europe and the Middle East. The global nature of the trafficking network was reflected not only in its reach but also in the diversity of enforcement agencies engaged in its disruption.

MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION ACROSS CONTINENTS

The operation was led by India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), working in close partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Interpol, and law enforcement and financial surveillance agencies in the UAE, including the Dubai Police and the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit. The U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) played a crucial role in tracing international financial flows linked to drug payments routed through cryptocurrency, PayPal, and hawala channels.

Customs and postal inspection agencies in Europe also contributed by intercepting consignments and conducting forensic parcel screening. Altogether, at least seven core agencies were actively involved, backed by supporting entities at the local and international levels.