Punjab, September 22 (Daily Kiran) : Punjab is ramping up its efforts against drug trafficking, with more than 98,000 arrests reported as the state approaches assembly elections. Despite ongoing seizures of narcotics and the dismantling of narco-terrorism networks, a segment of society continues to engage in the illegal drug trade, raising significant concerns.
During the third National Conference of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) held in New Delhi, similar incidents from Punjab were highlighted. Under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ (Drug-Free India) initiative, the central government has classified 73 districts as highly sensitive, with 274 others deemed sensitive. Among the highly sensitive districts in Punjab are Amritsar, Fazilka, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran, all of which border Pakistan, along with the industrial hub of Ludhiana.
The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has intensified its “war against drugs.” Data reveals that from 2022 to April 2026, 73,541 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, marking an increase of over 40% compared to the 52,255 cases recorded between 2017 and 2021.
During this period, law enforcement apprehended 98,596 individuals, a rise of nearly 45% from the previous total of 68,064. Officials attribute this surge to sustained and large-scale operations against drug trafficking networks throughout the state.
On the same day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested a drug trafficker in Delhi, linked to the large-scale importation of heroin concealed in semi-processed talc. This operation is tied to the seizure of contraband in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana.
Previously, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed six charge sheets against multiple suspects accused of conspiring with an international drug trafficking syndicate operating from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Dubai. The mastermind, identified as Vithayash Kosar alias Raju, is a wanted fugitive.
In another significant bust, the Haryana Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested seven suspects connected to an international narco-terrorism network. Investigations revealed that illicit drug sales generated ₹740 million, which were funneled to Afghanistan via hawala for financing terrorist activities.
Government records indicate that Punjab serves as a primary route for drug trafficking from Afghanistan through Pakistan. Reports from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) highlight substantial drug seizures at the state’s borders and incidents of smuggling via drones.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the central government has implemented several measures to strengthen the framework between state and central authorities to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
Trends indicate that drug trafficking syndicates operating across borders are increasingly utilizing modern methods such as drones, GPS-enabled consignments, encrypted communications, and local receiver networks to send heroin, methamphetamine, weapons, and ammunition into India.
Recently, Rajya Sabha’s Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, noted a significant increase in drone-related drug trafficking since 2021, making Punjab the most affected border state in the country. In 2025 alone, there were 305 reported incidents of drone-related drug trafficking nationwide, with 298 occurring along the Punjab border, resulting in the seizure of nearly 460 kilograms of narcotics, including 448 kilograms of heroin, 9 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 3 kilograms of opium. This underscores the severity of the emerging threat in the state.
The government is implementing various measures to combat cross-border drug trafficking, including the installation of advanced anti-drone systems in sensitive areas, enhanced surveillance systems with high-tech cameras, and the construction of new fencing and floodlights.
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