Guwahati: Assam's intensified campaign against narcotics has led to the arrest of 25,835 individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act from 2021 up to May 2026. During this period, law enforcement authorities registered a total of 16,157 cases, reflecting a sustained effort to curb drug trafficking and abuse across the state.
While public perception often focuses on illicit substances like heroin, official figures reveal a striking trend: psychotropic tablets and banned cough syrups constitute a substantial portion of the seized narcotics. Authorities confiscated an alarming 1.97 crore psychotropic tablets and capsules, alongside 15.42 lakh bottles of prohibited cough syrup. These statistics underscore the widespread issue of pharmaceutical substance abuse and their illicit trade within Assam.
Despite the high number of arrests, the legal outcomes present a mixed picture. Out of the thousands apprehended, approximately 1,000 convictions have been secured. Conversely, a significant 1,586 accused individuals were acquitted, often attributed to insufficient evidence or the inability of investigators to conclusively prove cases beyond reasonable doubt. This highlights ongoing challenges in the prosecution phase of drug-related offenses, even as the state maintains a robust stance on enforcement.
Continue Reading
