Haryana cracks down on drug trafficking; 71 drug cartels identified, 6,824 people arrested

Haryana Police have identified 71 drug cartels operating in the state and initiated action to dismantle their networks, even as 6,824 people were arrested in 3,809 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between January and September 2026, officials said on Monday.

The state government is strengthening its campaign against drug trafficking through financial investigations, cyber surveillance, monitoring of precursor chemicals and stricter regulation of medicines susceptible to misuse. The measures are being aligned with the national drug-control framework being prepared for 2026–29. The initiatives were reviewed at a high-level meeting of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB), chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀

Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sudhir Rajpal, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently set an ambitious target for states to intensify their campaign against narcotics trafficking. He stressed the need for a time-bound, multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the illegal drug trade.

HSNCB Chairman Sanjay Kumar informed the meeting that 71 drug cartels had been identified across Haryana and coordinated action was underway to dismantle their operations. He said a specialised unit was being developed to investigate drug trafficking through the dark web and financial transactions involving cryptocurrency. A cyber expert has also been engaged to strengthen the Bureau's investigative capabilities.

The authorities are placing particular emphasis on identifying organised trafficking networks, tracing proceeds generated through narcotics sales and improving coordination among police, prosecution and regulatory agencies.

𝗡𝗗𝗣𝗦 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝟰𝟬%

According to figures presented at the meeting, Haryana Police registered 3,809 NDPS cases between January and September this year, compared with 2,722 during the corresponding period in 2025, marking an increase of 39.93%.

Arrests rose by 26.53%, from 5,393 in the first nine months of 2025 to 6,824 during the same period this year. Cases involving commercial quantities of narcotic substances increased from 346 to 380, while those involving intermediate quantities rose from 1,887 to 2,844, an increase of 50.72%. Officials said the figures reflected intensified enforcement operations against drug trafficking networks across the state.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 ₹𝟭𝟵.𝟱𝟮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱

The state has also stepped up financial action against those allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

Between January and September 2026, properties worth ₹19.52 crore were attached in 113 cases, compared with properties worth ₹5.92 crore attached in 49 cases during the corresponding period last year.

The value of attached properties increased by 229.72%, while the number of attachment cases rose by 130.61%, officials said.

Kumar informed the meeting that 176 unauthorised or illegally occupied properties linked to 167 alleged drug traffickers had been demolished between 2022 and September 2026.

A specialised Financial Investigation Cell has been established at the HSNCB headquarters to strengthen investigations into narcotics cases involving commercial quantities.

Under the initiative, 139 police personnel have received training through four specialised courses.

The Bureau is also examining financial documents associated with identified drug cartels to trace illicit income, identify financial networks and determine how trafficking proceeds are transferred or concealed.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘇𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲

The meeting was informed that seizures of several narcotic substances had increased substantially during the first nine months of 2026.

Heroin seizures rose by 96.16%, from 43.176 kg during January–September 2025 to 84.695 kg during the corresponding period this year. Opium seizures increased from 235.550 kg to 430.326 kg, while cocaine seizures rose from 1,004.76 grams to 2,958.757 grams. Officials said the increased seizures were accompanied by efforts to identify the larger supply chains and financial structures supporting drug trafficking rather than limiting enforcement to individual arrests.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱

The meeting also identified the misuse of certain prescription medicines as an emerging challenge. Officials expressed concern over the use of pregabalin, zopiclone and tapentadol for intoxication and discussed possible policy and regulatory measures to prevent their diversion and abuse.

Proposals included strengthening coordination among the departments responsible for drug regulation, healthcare and law enforcement. The authorities also emphasised closer monitoring of precursor chemicals that could be diverted for manufacturing synthetic drugs. Officials said the state's strategy would combine conventional policing with cyber investigations, financial scrutiny, regulatory oversight and faster prosecution to disrupt organised narcotics networks.

The government intends to strengthen coordination among enforcement and regulatory agencies while continuing targeted action against the 71 identified cartels.