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News18
a day ago
- News18
3.75 Lakh Vs Just 268: India's War On Drugs High On Arrests, Low On Convictions In Last 3 Years
Last Updated: Nearly 40 lakh kg of drugs have been seized across India in these three years with an approximate collective value of more than Rs 52,000 crore In three years, India registered over 3 lakh drug trafficking cases and 3.75 lakh arrests, but only 268 led to convictions, a rate below 1%, News18 analysis shows. According to the data from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a total of 89,913 cases were registered in calendar year 2024, with 1.16 lakh arrests under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The total quantity of drugs seized across India stood at 13.30 lakh kg. The numbers in 2024 were lower than in 2023: 1.09 lakh cases, 1.32 lakh arrests, and 13.89 lakh kg of drugs seized under the NDPS Act. While the number of arrests and cases may appear encouraging, they paint a grim picture when it comes to convictions. The number of convictions each year has improved in the last three years, but remained very low compared to the number of cases and arrests—54 in 2022, 104 in 2023, and 110 in 2024, NCB data shows. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, India reported an average of 280, 300, and 246 cases related to the NDPS Act per day, respectively, leading to 347, 364, and 317 arrests per day, roughly. In 2022, nearly five convictions were secured each month, which increased to about nine per month in 2023 and 2024, the analysis of the official data shows. The analysis also shows that the states in the top position have reported lower convictions than states with fewer cases. Uttar Pradesh leads with the most convictions (42), followed by Bihar (38) and Tamil Nadu (28) in the three-year period. It is also worth noting that post-2020, the number of cases registered and arrests made was on the rise until 2024. The numbers in 2024 were fewer than in 2023 but more than in 2020 and 2021. Also, 16 lakh kg of drugs seized in 2021 marked the highest seizure year between 2020 and 2024. In the last three years, nearly 40 lakh kg of drugs have been seized across India. The numbers from NCB suggest that this quantity of drugs has a collective value of more than Rs 52,000 crore in the international illicit market. Kerala Tops in Drug Case Registrations Between calendar years 2022 and 2024, Kerala has been the biggest contributor, with the highest number of cases registered each year. It is the only state in India to report over 25,000 drug-related cases each year—26,918 in 2022, 30,715 in 2023, and 27,701 in 2024. In terms of the cases reported in three years, the top five states, accountable for more than 1.94 lakh cases collectively, were Kerala (85,334), Maharashtra (35,883), Punjab (33,012), Uttar Pradesh (24,698), and Madhya Pradesh (15,724). As is clear from the graph, Kerala was constantly in the top position, and Uttar Pradesh has been in the fourth position all these years. Punjab, which was in the third spot in 2022 and 2023, came second in 2024, replacing Maharashtra. Although Madhya Pradesh appeared in the top five list only once, it still ranked fifth overall in the total number of cases between 2022 and 2024. It reported 4,836 cases in 2022, 6,537 in 2023, and 4,351 in 2024. A total of seven states have registered more than 10,000 cases between 2022 and 2024. Rajasthan (14,298) and Haryana (10,600) followed Madhya Pradesh in the list. As shown in the graph, nine states reported less than 500 cases collectively in the three-year period. Clubbed with Manipur (859), Arunachal Pradesh (736), and Nagaland (723), 12 states reported less than 1,000 cases between 2022 and 2024. Drug Cases Declined in 23 States in 2024, But Rose in Telangana and Delhi As is clear from the overall drop, the cases registered in 2024 in 23 states were fewer than in 2023. In Maharashtra, the cases registered dropped to more than half, from 15,561 in 2023 to 7,536 in 2024. Kerala was second in terms of drop in cases, followed by Punjab, from 11,564 cases in 2023 to 9,025 in 2024. But Telangana, Delhi, and Assam were among the 13 states where cases increased in 2024 when compared to 2023. Telangana registered 1,281 cases in 2022, then 1,495 in 2023, and 2,387 in 2024. Delhi was next on the list—1,343 in 2022, followed by 1,415 in 2023 and 1,854 in 2024. In Assam, in 2022 and 2023, a little over 2,900 cases were registered, which increased to 3,350 in 2024. Minor increases were also reported in Rajasthan (from 5,098 to 5,462), Jharkhand (from 535 to 800), Andhra Pradesh (from 1,749 to 1,869), and West Bengal (from 1,005 to 1,089) between 2023 and 2024. Fighting Low Conviction There are a number of reasons for low convictions—sometimes there are lapses in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), sometimes slow disposal of cases in courts, and adding to these is the higher acquittal rates in these cases. top videos View all Acknowledging the issue, the government—through the NCB—organises training programmes to upgrade the skills of the public prosecutors and drug law enforcement officers to ensure a better conviction rate. Despite the increase in enforcement and seizures, the conviction gap underscores a need for stronger prosecution systems, faster trials, and coordinated follow-up by law enforcement and judicial authorities to ensure justice in India's fight against narcotics. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @ More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : drugs narcotics numberspeak Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 21, 2025, 07:30 IST News india 3.75 Lakh Vs Just 268: India's War On Drugs High On Arrests, Low On Convictions In Last 3 Years
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Chennai customs bust hydroponic ganja racket
Chennai: The arrest of two mules in recent weeks has seen the Chennai airport customs bust a reinvented modus operandi of drug smugglers using Sri Lanka as a transit point to bring in high-potent ganja varieties into the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Tuesday, the air intelligence unit (AIU) team, based on intelligence, intercepted a man who arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, via Colombo. When his checked-in baggage was examined, the AIU team found some suspicious looking food packets emitting a strong odour. Six such transparent packets containing green flowering and fruiting tops, weighing 2.8kg, were seized. Testing of the samples using the field drug testing kit confirmed that it was marijuana. It was seized under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Interrogation revealed that the flyer was promised 1.2 lakh if he delivered the contraband in Bengaluru. He had planned to reach Bengaluru by road if not caught at Chennai airport. While he was remanded in judicial custody on Thursday, customs sleuths said the six kg hydroponic ganja seized on May 16 was also smuggled from Thailand via Colombo. The contraband was hidden within 13 sealed packets disguised as 'Ritz toasted chips and multigrain tortilla chips'. Officials suspect that the smugglers might have used Sri Lanka as a transit point to reach Chennai to avoid suspicion since suspected flyers arriving from Bangkok undergo rigorous checking by customs at Chennai airport. "Smugglers bringing drugs via Sri Lanka is not new, but now they have changed the modus operandi since vigilance is tight at Chennai airport," said sources. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Customs sleuths also said that in both incidents, the final destination of the drug was Bengaluru, not Chennai, and they are investigating if the same gang is behind both incidents. Meanwhile, customs sleuths arrested an Indian male passenger who arrived from Thailand on Thursday in possession of 2.4 kg hydroponic weed wrapped in silver foils. The passenger was arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Chennai customs also made another seizure of 1 kg hydroponic ganja that was couriered from Thailand on June 3. Customs officers at the Postal Appraising Department (PAD) checked a package after suspicious results from X-ray scanning and discovered two packets of hydroponic weed, weighing a total of 1.022kg.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Chennai customs busted drug smuggling route, Sri Lanka as transit point for high-potency ganja; 2 held
CHENNAI: Customs sleuths at Chennai airport have uncovered a new modus operandi used by drug smugglers, using Sri Lanka as a transit point to bring high-potency ganja into India from Thailand. Two couriers have been arrested in recent weeks as part of the ongoing crackdown. In the latest case, a male passenger who flew in from Bangkok via Colombo was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on Tuesday. Upon checking his baggage, officials found six transparent food packets emitting a strong odour. These packets contained green flowering and fruiting tops of marijuana weighing 2.8 kg. Field drug tests confirmed the contents as marijuana. The substance was seized under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. During questioning, the passenger admitted he was promised Rs 1.2 lakh to deliver the contraband in Bengaluru, planning to travel there by road. He has been remanded in judicial custody. Customs officials linked the incident to an earlier seizure on 16 May, in which six kilograms of hydroponic ganja were smuggled from Thailand via Colombo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No Distractions. Just Solitaire Play Solitaire Download Undo The contraband had been packed inside 13 sealed snack packets labelled as 'Ritz toasted chips' and 'multigrain tortilla chips'. Authorities believe smugglers are using Sri Lanka to bypass strict checks usually applied to flyers arriving directly from Bangkok at Chennai airport. In 2024 so far, around 45 kg of hydroponic ganja smuggled from Thailand has been seized at the airport. Investigations indicate that the final delivery point in both recent cases was Bengaluru, not Chennai. Officials are examining whether the same network is involved in both operations. In a separate case, the Chennai Customs Postal Appraising Department (PAD) intercepted a parcel earlier this month. After suspicious results from X-ray scanning, 1.022 kg of hydroponic ganja was found hidden in two packets. This consignment was also seized under the NDPS Act, and investigations are ongoing to identify the recipient. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
