SHIMLA, 22 February 2025—The Himachal Pradesh government plans to introduce the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Bill in the upcoming assembly session to strengthen legal provisions, impose stricter penalties on repeat offenders, and promote rehabilitation for first-time minor offenders, a government spokesperson said.
In 2024, police arrested 2,515 individuals in drug-related cases and seized 368.20 kg of charas, 36.20 kg of opium, 11.14 kg of heroin, 668.67 kg of poppy husk, and 33.64 kg of ganja.
Besides, authorities destroyed 37,20,654 cannabis plants and 3,78,152 poppy plants while confiscating 2,89,68,041 psychotropic substance tablets.
The police, working with enforcement agencies, have dismantled trafficking networks, seized illicit assets, and taken action under the NDPS Act and the PIT NDPS Act, 1988. The crackdown extended to police personnel and government employees found complicit in drug trafficking.
Efforts also include preventive detentions, with 45 proposals submitted in 2024—compared to none until 2022—and four detention orders issued against repeat offenders.
Authorities confiscated illegal assets worth ₹9 crore and launched a systematic drive to seal and demolish properties linked to drug operations.
To further disrupt supply chains, searches were conducted at 40–50 locations across the state for the first time. The government is also prioritizing forensic lab upgrades to strengthen investigations.
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