Washington: Even though Washington has again placed India on its list of major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries for fiscal year 2027, US President Donald Trump has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for its efforts to tackle illegal opium cultivation in the country.
The list also includes Afghanistan, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and several countries in Central and South America. The Presidential Determination submitted to the US Congress on September 15 names 23 countries, including India, China and Pakistan.
“I welcome Prime Minister Modi and the Government of India’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and bolster supply chain integrity. However, Washington makes clear that appearing on the list does not mean that a government has failed to control illegal drugs. The presidential determination also gave the US president an opportunity to list out his administration’s campaign against drug trafficking and narcoterrorist groups. He has made the claims in the presidential determination. The reference to the United States-India Drug Policy Framework follows counter-narcotics cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. The latest US statement specifically mentions illicit opium cultivation and the integrity of supply chains.
I look forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework,” he said. Trump described the progress made by his administration as “historic”. He said stronger border controls has helped cut seizures of fentanyl and other drugs entering the United States through the southern border by more than half. He also said drug overdose deaths has fallen significatly and claimed that his administration has saved tens of thousands of American lives.
