Modernising drug law enforcement in India through legal-tech: comparative insights from Australia and the UK

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the rise of drug-impaired crime in India. It suggests a legal-tech enforcement framework inspired by Australia and the UK, which use advanced tech for narcotics control. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a hybrid doctrinal-empirical approach, analysing legal frameworks, roadside drug testing and technology in Australia and the UK. It examines how Artificial Intelligence, blockchain and geospatial tools improve law enforcement. Findings India’s enforcement faces issues like fragmented digital infrastructure, weak forensic standards and judicial scepticism about tech evidence. The new framework combines AI predictive policing, blockchain evidence management and geospatial analytics to boost efficiency and transparency. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to two jurisdictions and focuses on legal and policy frameworks rather than operational trials, warranting further empirical validation in the Indian context. Practical implications The framework offers a roadmap for Indian agencies to adopt digital tools for narcotics control, enhancing forensic processes and inter-agency collaboration. Social implications Adoption of this framework encourages privacy-respecting, transparent law enforcement consistent with constitutional safeguards, especially the Puttaswamy judgement. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to propose an integrated legal-tech model for narcotics enforcement in India, bridging gaps between digital governance, forensic science and legal reform.