Despite attempts, the government is having more difficulty stopping drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there are an estimated 7.6 million drug users in Pakistan, most of them are under 25.
Every year, the illicit drug trade in Pakistan is estimated to be worth $2 billion. Over 80 percent of the world’s opium is produced through smuggling, and this has been going on since August 2021, according to the UN drug monitoring network.
Based on growing instances of drug smuggling and illicit opium manufacturing, India is also becoming a significant opium market (International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2023 study). In India, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh are the main states where poppies are grown.
