Assam has emerged as the state registering the highest number of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Northeast and Eastern India. This shows a huge increase in drug seizures, arrests and seizures, while Manipur has emerged as the biggest hub of heroin seizures. This information has come out in the cross-border drug smuggling and seizure report of 12 states of Eastern India based on the data of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
According to the report, 12,500 NDPS cases were registered in Assam in the last five years and 20,398 arrests were made. Odisha stood second with 12,405 cases and 17,016 arrests.
Although Assam tops the total cases, Manipur has the highest amount of heroin seized at 1,750.34 kg, making it the biggest hotspot for heroin seizures among the 12 states. This report has come out at a time when the Central Government has launched a war against drugs with the aim of making the country drug-free by 2047.
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reiterated the government’s resolve and said that the priority of the government is to take strict action against drug smuggling through land and sea borders, strengthen the NCB and ensure better coordination between various agencies.
The report describes Manipur as a “high-value trafficking risk zone” in the North-Eastern region. Due to the international border with Myanmar, most of the drugs coming here come from the “Golden Triangle”. This is an area that is notorious for the production of heroin and synthetic drugs spread across Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.
In case of heroin seizure, 605.8 kg heroin was recovered in West Bengal, 573.96 kg in Assam and 485.24 kg in Bihar.
The report described Mizoram as a major hub of synthetic drugs, where 2,218.27 kg of ATS (amphetamine-type stimulants) were seized, the highest among 12 states.
Odisha tops in ganja seizure
Odisha has emerged as the state with the highest seizure of ganja. Between 2020 and 2024, 8,50,792 kg of ganja was seized there. Tripura stood second, where 2,21,731 kg of ganja was recovered, while 1,79,462 kg of ganja was recovered in Assam. More than 2,12,000 kg of ganja was seized in Odisha in 2023 alone.
Smuggling of pharmaceutical drugs also increased
The report also notes a significant increase in seizures of medicinal drugs in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Bihar. In West Bengal, 27.5 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup (CBCS) were seized, while in Assam, more than 1 crore 72 lakh intoxicating tablets were seized in the last five years.
Big recovery of opium in Bihar and Jharkhand
According to reports, more than 4,206 kg of opium and more than 3,26,000 kg of poppy husk were seized during this period in Jharkhand. Whereas in Bihar, 1,920 kg of opium and more than 35,000 kg of poppy husk were recovered.
need for better coordination
The report points out the need for better intelligence sharing between the NCB, state police forces, Customs Department, DRI, BSF, Assam Rifles and railway and highway surveillance units. Also, a thorough investigation into the misuse of precursor chemicals, drug trafficking and financial transactions related to drug networks has been recommended.
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