Chandigarh, Oct. 1 — More people in Punjab are involved in drug trafficking than consumption, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2023. The state recorded the highest proportion of drug-smuggling cases in the country, with 25.3 cases per lakh of population, while cases of drug use stood at 12.4 per lakh.
Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh emerged as the second-highest state for smuggling ratios, despite reporting only 2,146 NDPS Act cases last year. Of these, 1,599 were linked to trafficking and 547 to consumption, reflecting its role as a transit route due to its border with Punjab and Jammu.
While Punjab ranks first in smuggling ratios, it was third in absolute NDPS cases with 11,589 FIRs in 2023, behind Kerala (30,697 cases) and Maharashtra (15,610 cases). In Kerala and Maharashtra, most cases were related to consumption rather than trafficking, indicating these states function more as drug markets than supply routes. Kerala reported 28,015 cases of consumption out of 30,697, while Maharashtra recorded 13,075 out of 15,610 for consumption.
Punjab’s position on the international border with Pakistan reinforces its role as a transit corridor for narcotics, especially heroin smuggled from Afghanistan. The state’s drug crisis, highlighted in documentaries and films such as Udta Punjab, has been a central political and social issue since 2013.
The 2023 snapshot shows:
- Punjab: 11,589 cases (37.6 per lakh) — 3,804 consumption (12.4 per lakh), 7,785 trafficking (25.3 per lakh)
- Kerala: 30,697 cases (85.7 per lakh) — 28,015 consumption (78.2 per lakh), 2,682 trafficking (7.5 per lakh)
- Maharashtra: 15,610 cases (12.3 per lakh) — 13,075 consumption (10.3 per lakh), 2,535 trafficking (2.0 per lakh)
- Himachal Pradesh: 2,146 cases — 547 consumption (7.3 per lakh), 1,599 trafficking (21.3 per lakh)
The figures underscore Punjab’s enduring role as a transit hub for narcotics, contrasting sharply with southern states where consumption dominates.
