3.79 kg chitta seized in Himachal in 3 months

In a worrying trend, heroin — also known as ‘chitta’ —continues to pose a major threat in Himachal Pradesh, with seizures across the state rising sharply in the first three months of 2025.

According to the Himachal Pradesh Police, 3.79 kg of heroin has been seized so far this year — nearly 1 kg more than the 2.72 kg recovered during the same period in 2024 — marking an increase of almost 27 per cent.

From January 1 to March 31, a total of 597 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, across Himachal Pradesh — up from 463 cases during the same period last year. Of 597, 305 cases involved the seizure of chitta (heroin).

Shimla district reported the highest number of chitta-related cases at 51, followed by Mandi (42), Kangra (36), Bilaspur (32), Una and Sirmaur (23 each), Hamirpur and Kullu (19 each), Nurpur and Solan (17 each), Chamba and Baddi (11 each) and Dehra (4). No cases were reported from the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Notably, Lahaul-Spiti has not recorded a single chitta seizure in the past decade.

In addition to heroin, the police also seized 102.1 kg of charas (cannabis), 3.79 kg of opium, 46.98 kg of poppy husk, 5,260 poppy plants, 7.5 kg of ganja and 2.07 gm of smack in the first quarter of 2025. This marks a significant increase from the same period in 2024, when 74.64 kg of charas, 5.3 kg of opium, 96.8 kg of poppy husk, 16,525 poppy plants, 11.06 kg of ganja and 6.09 gm of smack were seized.

Police officials said intensified efforts were underway to tackle the growing drug menace in the state. Most of the chitta, they said, was trafficked in small quantities from neighbouring states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir. Security has been tightened at interstate borders and several interstate drug trafficking networks have been dismantled.

The police have also stepped up action against habitual offenders by invoking the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (PIT NDPS Act).

Himachal Tribune