The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has urged for closure of illegal internet pharmacies and seizure of substances illicitly ordered via the internet. The 2011 INCB Annual report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Tuesday evening in New Delhi, said illegal drugs are being ordered via illegal internet pharmacies and over half of the medicines supplied are counterfeit.

The report also said young audiences are being targeted for drug abuse via social networking sites. The INCB report pointed out that South Asia reported increasing abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The UNODC studies on Global Afghan Opium trade said the Global heroin economy stood at 68 billion US dollars, while South Asia accounted for 1.9 billion US Dollars. According to it, the heroin economy in India, the biggest consumer market in South Asia was worth 1.4 billion US Dollars. It said India is the largest producer of opium in South Asia with an estimated 3.1 million opiate users.

The UNODC study said, 17 tons of heroin is being consumed and an average of one ton seizures were reported annually in the country. The study also pointed out that South Asia was both a destination and transit point for heroin trafficking. It said 25 tons of heroin was trafficked from Afghanistan to South Asia in 2009.