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Kristian Hölge
Regional Representative for South Asia
UNODC

MESSAGE

The Regional Office for South Asia of the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Directorate of Revenue Intel-
th
ligence (DRI) of the Government of India on the occasion of its 68 Foundation Day and,
from the outset, would like to acknowledge the impressive results of DRI’s work.

We at UNODC follow DRI’s achievements in 2025, marked by exemplary opera-
tions against narcotics and other types of smuggling, which stand as a testament to its
unwavering dedication and strategic excellence in addressing the complex challenges of
transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. We have taken note of various
elements of the DRI work, including but not limited to the dismantling of a synthetic drug
manufacturing facilities, successful interception of a large-scale gold smuggling syndi-
cate, drug seizures with high market value, as well as strengthened intelligence and multi
agency operations. We also congratulate you on the inauguration of new DRI headquar-
ters in June 2025.

UNODC shares concerns with regard to the escalating threat posed by drug
trafficking, particularly the surge in synthetic and high-purity narcotics, which represents
a major challenge to national, regional, and international security and requires effective
coordinated responses. UNODC strives to share its expertise and insights, fostering
collaboration among member states across South Asia and beyond to pursue common
objectives and tackle shared challenges.

UNODC pledges its support as a long-standing partner to DRI and the Govern-
ment of India and looks forward to further enhancing the strategic partnership with India
within the framework of the Regional Programme for South Asia (2024-2028). As the
newly appointed UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia, I eagerly anticipate
collaborating closely with India’s national agencies, including the Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, and supporting their continued achievements.

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