Punjab has emerged as the state with the highest number of drug smuggling cases in the country, according to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) for 2022, released on Monday. The reports show the alarming rise of drug-related crimes in India. The state also ranks third in the overall number of cases registered under all categories of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The NCRB report highlights that Punjab tops the nation with 24.3 drug smuggling cases per lakh population, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 14.8 cases. Surprisingly, Kerala has recorded the highest number of cases under all categories of the NDPS Act in the country, with 26,619 overall FIRs. This marks a significant departure from its previous rankings, as it has never featured among the top three states in this category in recent years. Maharashtra follows with 13,830 cases, while Punjab maintains its third position with 12,442 FIRs for the second consecutive year.
According to the report, Punjab recorded the highest number of 144 drug overdose deaths in the country last year. The list is followed by 117 in Rajasthan and 74 in Madhya Pradesh.
The NCRB report categorizes the cases into two groups: those involving persons from whom drugs were recovered for personal consumption and those related to drug smuggling. Punjab leads the country with 7,433 cases of drug trafficking, with the actual number of drug smugglers likely higher, as the report does not specify the number of suspects booked in a single FIR. Uttar Pradesh follows with the second-highest drug smuggling cases, recording 4,920 FIRs.
Notably, Kerala has registered only 1,600 cases against drug smugglers, while the majority, nearly 25,000, pertain to drug consumers. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the growing drug menace in the country, particularly in states like Punjab and Kerala.