NCB Launches ‘WIPE’ To Crack Down On Illegal Online Drug Sales

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday launched a coordinated nationwide operation, ‘ WIPE ’ (Web-based Illicit Activities Prevention and Enforcement), aimed at curbing the illegal sale and distribution of regulated pharmaceutical drugs through online platforms.

In an official statement, the agency said it has issued formal notices to several e-commerce and B2B platforms, directing them to take immediate corrective measures to prevent misuse of their services. A comprehensive list of substances regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has also been shared to enable proactive detection and removal of suspicious listings.

Platforms such as IndiaMART, TradeIndia and Dial4Trade have already initiated action, including removal of flagged products and suspension of suspicious vendors , the NCB said.

The agency identified 122 instances involving 62 substances , including commonly abused drugs like Clonazepam, Diazepam and Fentanyl . Of these, 58 fall under the NDPS Act, while four are classified as “controlled substances” requiring prior approval from the NCB for any transaction.

Highlighting the significance of ‘WIPE’, the NCB described it as a strategic shift from reactive to proactive enforcement , focusing on detecting and eliminating illegal listings before they translate into actual trafficking. The operation is being supported by the International Narcotics Control Board’s SNOOP (Scanning Novel Opioids on Online Platforms) programme , enabling real-time monitoring of emerging threats.

Officials underscored the serious public health and security risks posed by the illegal online sale of pharmaceutical drugs, which fuels addiction, enables unregulated access to potent substances and strengthens organised drug networks operating across borders.

The initiative builds on the success of ‘ Operation MED-MAX ’ conducted in July 2025 with international agencies, which dismantled a transnational drug trafficking syndicate involving cryptocurrency payments and global shipping networks.