Over 4,000 Haryana Villages Declared Drug-Free, But Urban Areas a Challenge

Haryana's anti-drug campaign shows strong rural success but faces persistent challenges in urban drug control.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

The campaign against drugs in Haryana has so far yielded a positive response, with over 4,000 villages in the state declared drug-free. However, making some urban pockets free from drugs still remains a challenge for the authorities.

Within the first four months of 2025, the Haryana police reported 143 major drug cases, followed by the arrest of 332 people, including 145 smugglers from other states. The police seized large quantities of drugs, including 1.5 kg of heroin, 904 kg of ganja, 50 kg of opium, 40 kg of charas, over 5,800 kg of poppy husk, and more than 1.4 lakh banned tablets, capsules, and bottles.

Last year, the state police arrested 4,652 people under drug laws for their involvement in the drug trade. The police also seized illegal assets worth Rs 52 crore and demolished 111 buildings linked to drug traffickers, while 65 repeat offenders were arrested under strict laws.

To speed up justice, the government started eight special NDPS fast-track courts in places like Ambala, Hisar, and Sirsa. The figures revealed that the conviction rate improved from 48% in 2023 to 54% in 2024.