New Delhi/Chandigarh, March 13 — Punjab recorded 9,025 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2024, a decline from 11,564 in 2023 and 12,423 in 2022, according to data presented in Parliament by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.
Despite this downward trend, Punjab had the second-highest number of such cases nationwide last year.
In 2022 and 2023, the state ranked third, with Maharashtra registering more cases. However, Kerala led the country in drug-related cases, recording 26,918 in 2022, 30,715 in 2023, and 27,701 in 2024. Nationally, the figures stood at 1,02,769 in 2022, 1,09,546 in 2023, and 89,913 in 2024.
Punjab’s vulnerability to drug smuggling is exacerbated by its border with Pakistan, which serves as a transit point for narcotics, weapons, and counterfeit currency. The increasing use of drones has intensified trafficking concerns. This year alone, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized approximately 35 kg of narcotics near the border and shot down over 45 drones suspected to be of Pakistani origin.
The Punjab Government launched a major crackdown on drug trafficking this month, with police registering 1,072 cases and arresting 1,485 individuals over the past 11 days.
In response to questions from MPs Shambhu Sharan Patel, Baburam Nishad, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that border forces, including the BSF, Assam Rifles, and Sashastra Seema Bal, have been empowered under the NDPS Act to conduct searches, seizures, and arrests along international borders.
He also mentioned that the Railway Protection Force now has similar powers to curb drug trafficking via rail routes.
Rai outlined several measures taken to combat the issue, including a four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism to enhance coordination between central and state agencies.
Each state and union territory now has a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force, led by a senior police officer, to implement NCORD decisions.
Additionally, a task force under the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) has been established to monitor darknet platforms and cryptocurrency transactions linked to drug trafficking. This unit tracks emerging trends, intercepts networks, and reviews legal frameworks related to narcotics enforcement.
