40% Spike in Smuggling of Drug Cases in 2 Years

Police Data Showed That at Least 5,246 Cases of Drug Smuggling Under the NDPS Act Were Lodged in 2024, Up From 3,740 in 2022

- HT Correspondent

JAIPUR: Drug smuggling cases in Rajasthan recorded a massive 40.27% jump in 2024, compared to the last two years, according to the Rajasthan Police's monthly crime report (MCR).

According to the data, at least 5,246 cases of drug smuggling under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were lodged in 2024, up from 4,872 in 2023, and 3,740 in 2022. Following this, the Rajasthan government announced the formation of a special task force (STF) in its last budget on July 8, to deal with the narcotics cases exclusively.

A compiled data of the number of arrests made in 2024 was not immediately available. However, a senior officer aware of the matter said that the department has held nearly 6,000 people in drug smuggling cases across the state, while many criminals, who have been operating from different states or even from abroad, are also under the radar.

Police had arrested a total of 5,909 criminals in 2023 and 4,492 in 2022, as per the police data.

Police also stated that the maximum surge in smuggling cases was noticed in opium dealings, followed by doda powder, marijuana, heroine and smack, the officer said.

"Several operations were conducted in the past two years to nab wanted drug smugglers who have been absconding for a long time. Of the 60 arrests made by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), many were involved in inter-state and international drug smuggling cases in Rajasthan," the officer added.