5,000 cases registered under NDPS Act in three years
In an alarming trend, 5,004 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, were registered in the state in the past three years.
As per the official data shared by the government, 2,147 cases under the NDPS Act were registered in the state in 2023 (January 1 to December 31), 1,717 cases in 2024 and 1,140 cases in 2025 (January 1 to June 30).
Also, from 2023 to June 2025, the police seized 919 kg of charas, 32.9 kg of heroin, 1,632 kg of poppy husk, 89.6 kg of opium and over 1.64 lakh tablets and capsules. Furthermore, nearly 70 lakh cannabis plants were destroyed in the state.
In the past two-and-a-half years, assets worth Rs 36.95 crore were attached (worth Rs 4.87 crore in 2023, Rs 25.42 crore in 2024 and worth Rs 6.66 crore till June 2025) while cases involving Rs 7.74 crore were under process for confirmation.
A government spokesperson stated that two comprehensive laws had been enacted during 2025. “The Himachal Pradesh Organised Crime (Prevention and Control) Bill has been introduced with stringent provisions such as death penalty, life imprisonment, property confiscation and heavy fines to target organised crime syndicates. Complementing this, the HP Drugs and Controlled Substances (Prevention, De-addiction and Rehabilitation) Bill has also been brought in to ensure not only stricter punishment for drug offenses but also to institutionalise a robust framework for rehabilitation, prevention, creating awareness and livelihood creation,” he added.
He said that the state government had constituted a Special Task Force (STF) in March 2025, with three operational zones – Dharamsala, Mandi, Parwanoo — covering high-risk areas such as Una, Kullu, Baddi and Sirmaur. “Thirteen police stations have been brought under the STF umbrella with six already operational, ensuring sharper, intelligence-driven enforcement and better inter-district coordination,” he added.
The spokesperson said, “Simultaneously, rehabilitation and reintegration have been emphasised as the key pillars of the government’s approach. De-addiction centres for men are operational in Kullu, Una, Hamirpur and Kangra, while the Red Cross Society manages a centre for women in Kullu. A 100-bed state-of-the-art de-addiction facility is being set up at Kotla Barog in Sirmaur district and plans are underway to establish similar centres in all districts.”
He added, “To support the long-term recovery and reintegration of former addicts, the government is providing employment opportunities, skill development and counselling with an aim to treat addiction as a health and social issue rather than a purely criminal one. This shift in policy reflects a humane and inclusive approach to rehabilitation.”
Himachal Tribune