New Delhi, Aug 7: The India-US Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) Pillar I Working Group Meeting was hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a hybrid format, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking and the diversion of precursor chemicals.

The NCB shared details of the meeting on the social media platform X, stating, “The India-US Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) – Pillar I Working Group Meeting was hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau on 6 August 2026 in hybrid mode.”

The meeting brought together representatives from several Indian and US agencies. Participants from the Indian side included the NCB, Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Department of Revenue, and Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

The US delegation included officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), LEGAT, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the US Department of State.

According to the NCB, the discussions focused on strengthening operational cooperation, preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals, enhancing policy coordination, and advancing capacity building.

India highlighted its robust precursor control framework and ongoing initiatives to further strengthen regulatory and enforcement mechanisms to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals.

The meeting follows earlier discussions held in March during the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria. During those talks, NCB Director General Anurag Garg and Sara Carter, Director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, discussed sharing actionable intelligence to bolster counter-narcotics cooperation. Both sides also explored mechanisms for real-time information sharing to facilitate parallel investigations against transnational drug cartels operating across jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, the Central government informed the Lok Sabha this week that the NCB has strengthened international cooperation in drug control through bilateral agreements with 27 countries and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 19 countries.

Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, in reply to a query, had said that India holds regular Director General (DG) Level/bilateral talks on drug-related matters with countries such as Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and the US.

Responding to questions by Naresh Ganpat Mhaske and Shrikant Shinde, Rai added that to address the challenge of illicit drug trafficking and abuse of drugs, Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) was released on June 26, which lays down a three-year roadmap with clear priorities and time bound targets to be achieved by various stakeholders to control drugs with ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Society’ approach.

The MoS said the NCB has also established a four-tier Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central and state drug law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India.

The Lok Sabha failed to transact any legislative business on Friday morning, as the constant protests and ruckus by the Opposition members resulted in disruption of the Question Hour. The House was adjourned till noon.

The House, soon after convening for the day, remembered the historic movement — 1942 Bharat Chodo Andolan, started and helmed by Mahatma Gandhi — and observed a minute of silence for the freedom fighters, pledging to uphold their guiding principles.

Soon after paying tributes to the freedom fighters, the House descended into chaos with Opposition members resorting to slogan-shouting and demanding debate on issues like alleged police excesses during the Delhi stir.

Seeking to placate the protesting members, the Speaker urged them to contribute to the House proceedings by participating in the Question Hour, but the uproar continued.

Om Birla even cited Mahatma Gandhi to support his arguments and asked the protesting members to follow his path of ‘finding solutions through dialogue’.

Emphasising that Mahatma Gandhi is revered not just in the country but globally, he asked them to follow his ideals and let the House function

“I plead before you to not disrupt the crucial Question Hour and let the House function,” the Speaker exhorted.

As his appeal went unheeded and with no let-up in sloganeering from the Opposition benches, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.

Earlier, the Speaker told the House that on August 9, the nation will observe the 84th anniversary of Bharat Chodo Andolan (Quit India movement).

“It was on this day in 1942 that Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan of “do or die” to resist the British regime. This movement was an affirmation of people’s unwavering faith, unconditional loyalty and devotion towards the motherland,” Om Birla told the House.

He further said that the movement played a decisive role in awakening the nation and uniting the countrymen in uprooting the British regime.

“Today, we remember and pay tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs and, taking inspiration from their sacrifice, ideals and principles, we vow to uphold their ideals in true spirit,” he added.

The Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s South-West District has busted an inter-state cyber fraud syndicate involved in impersonation-based online scams and arrested four accused, including a Nigerian national. The gang cheated a complainant of Rs 1.46 lakh by falsely claiming that a parcel containing US dollars and gold had been sent to India in his name.

Police said the operation involved coordinated investigations across Delhi, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A total of seven mobile phones allegedly used in the commission of the offence have been recovered.

According to police, a complaint was received on March 31, at PS Cyber, South-West District, alleging that the complainant had been cheated by unidentified persons through an online impersonation scam. The fraudsters reportedly contacted the victim through WhatsApp messages and phone calls while posing as residents of the United States.

Investigators said the accused gradually gained the complainant’s trust by establishing a personal relationship and then falsely informed him that a parcel containing US dollars and gold had been dispatched to India in his name.

The victim was subsequently asked to pay money on various pretexts, including obtaining a Money Declaration Certificate, booking flight tickets, customs clearance charges and securing the release of the purportedly seized parcel.

Believing the claims to be genuine, the complainant transferred Rs 1.46 lakh through multiple UPI IDs and bank accounts. Following the complaint, an e-FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was launched.

Given the seriousness of the case, a special team comprising SI Vishal Yadav, HC Pramod Kumar, HC Vikram, HC Amit Kumar and W/HC Reena Kumari was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Pravesh Kaushik, SHO, PS Cyber, and ACP Operations Sanghamitra.

During the investigation, the team conducted extensive technical analysis, examined digital evidence, tracked financial transactions and carried out surveillance. The investigation trail led police from Delhi to Telangana and eventually to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Based on technical inputs, the first accused, Deepak Kumar (22), was arrested from Maidan Garhi in South Delhi. One mobile phone allegedly used in the fraud was recovered from his possession.

Further investigation led the team to Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana, where Konda Sagar (33) was arrested. Subsequently, Azmeera Vinod Kumar (30) was apprehended from Dubbapeta in Telangana, and two mobile phones were recovered from him.

Continuing the probe, investigators uncovered the involvement of Simeon Miracle Chinonso (22), a Nigerian national residing in Visakhapatnam. Acting on technical Intelligence, the police conducted a raid in Andhra Pradesh and arrested the accused. Four mobile phones allegedly used in the cyber fraud operation were recovered from her possession.

Police said the investigation revealed that the accused were part of an organised cyber fraud network. Deepak Kumar, Konda Sagar and Azmeera Vinod Kumar allegedly arranged and supplied mule bank accounts to cybercriminals in exchange for commissions.

Meanwhile, Chinonso allegedly impersonated immigration officials, customs officers and representatives of various organisations through WhatsApp chats and phone calls. Victims were induced to transfer money on the false promise of receiving foreign parcels and clearing customs and documentation formalities.

Investigators found that the defrauded money was routed through multiple bank accounts to conceal its origin and facilitate further transfers.

Police have recovered seven mobile phones from the accused. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate and trace additional victims who may have been targeted through similar frauds.