Jammu and Kashmir recorded 3,453 arrests in narcotics-related cases in 2022, marking the highest figure in the Union Territory between 2020 and 2024, according to data presented by the Union Government in the Rajya Sabha. This figure surpasses previous years, with 1,564 arrests in 2020 and 2,355 in 2021, followed by 3,247 in 2023 and 2,214 in 2024.
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted these statistics, which also revealed a rise in convictions. In Jammu and Kashmir, convictions increased from 19 in 2020 to 282 in 2024, with 41 convictions in 2021, 115 in 2022, and 237 in 2023. Similarly, in Ladakh, the number of arrests related to narcotics cases rose from four in 2020 to 29 in 2024, while convictions saw a significant jump from zero in 2020 and 2021 to 19 in 2024, including 11 in 2022 and three in 2023.
The data also detailed narcotics seizures across the Union Territories. Jammu and Kashmir reported 4,977.21 kg of narcotics seized in 2024, alongside 134,699 other seizures and 552.8 litres. In contrast, Ladakh reported 15.886 kg of narcotics seized during the same year. Nationally, Jammu and Kashmir’s kilogram-based seizures in 2024 were lower than the all-India total of 942,571.125 kg.
Over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, Jammu and Kashmir’s seizures by weight showed a declining trend. The seizures dropped from 27,361.353 kg in 2020 to 22,082.414 kg in 2021, 17,192.409 kg in 2022, 11,358.528 kg in 2023, and 4,977.21 kg in 2024. Ladakh’s kilogram-based seizures were negligible in 2020, with notable amounts seized in subsequent years, including 403.078 kg in 2021 and 15.886 kg in 2024.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, addressed the Rajya Sabha on cross-border narcotics trafficking and border security, highlighting it as a significant challenge for India. He specifically noted the vulnerability of the North-Eastern states due to their proximity to the Golden Triangle and porous borders with Myanmar.
According to the Ministry’s report, Drug Law Enforcement Agencies seized substantial quantities of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (4,626 kg) and heroin (2,652 kg) in the North-Eastern region between 2021 and 2025. The Centre pointed out that the Free Movement Regime along vulnerable border areas had facilitated drug trafficking in the region. Trafficking networks are reportedly adapting their strategies by concealing narcotics within legitimate trade and passenger movements, employing local receiver networks, and shifting routes to evade detection.
The trafficking patterns in the North-East have evolved, with a notable increase in methamphetamine, including Crystal Meth and YABA, originating from Myanmar, particularly entering through Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Heroin trafficking persists, and precursor chemicals are allegedly being smuggled from various parts of India to Myanmar for the illicit production of synthetic drugs. Traffickers are exploiting unfenced border sections, forest routes, and difficult terrain, while also using cargo, passenger vehicles, and courier networks. Encrypted communication platforms and social media are increasingly being used to facilitate these operations. The Moreh-Tamu border has been identified as a key transit route for heroin and methamphetamine originating from Myanmar.
These state and Union territory-wise figures on seizures, arrests, and convictions are compiled from National Crime Records Bureau data for 2024, covering the period from 2020 to 2024. At the national level, arrests in narcotics-related cases rose from 83,719 in 2020 to 131,409 in 2024, with a peak of 151,787 arrests in 2023. Convictions also saw a significant increase, reaching 57,382 in 2024, the highest in the five-year span.
To enhance enforcement efforts, the Centre has released the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029), focusing on intelligence operations, control of precursors and synthetic drugs, demand reduction, and capacity building. A four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre mechanism, regular Joint Coordination Committee meetings, and dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in every state and Union Territory are in place. The Narcotics Control Bureau collaborates with agencies such as the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and state Anti-Narcotics Task Forces for joint operations. New zonal units of the NCB have been established in key border areas, including Srinagar, with further expansion planned in the North-East. Border security measures include advanced anti-drone systems, enhanced surveillance equipment, and improved fencing and lighting along vulnerable stretches.
The Chenab Times News Desk