Assam Tops Drug Cases In East & Northeast India, Manipur Leads In Heroin Seizures

Last Updated:May 23, 2026, 11:41 IST

Report shows Assam tops NDPS cases with about 12,500 and 20,398 arrests, Odisha close behind, Manipur leads heroin seizures.

A recent report on cross-border drug trafficking has highlighted significant trends in narcotics-related crime across eastern and northeastern India, with Assam emerging as the state recording the highest number of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The data, compiled from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) across 12 states in eastern India, shows that Assam registered around 12,500 NDPS cases over the last five years, along with 20,398 arrests. Odisha followed closely, recording 12,405 cases and 17,016 arrests during the same period.

While Assam led in overall cases, Manipur stood out as the biggest hotspot for heroin seizures. The state accounted for 1,750.34 kg of heroin recovered over five years, the highest among all 12 states covered in the report.

The findings underline the continuing challenge of drug trafficking in the region, particularly along sensitive cross-border routes that are frequently used for smuggling narcotics into India.

The report comes at a time when the central government has intensified its anti-drug campaign, aiming to eliminate the drug menace by 2047. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly stressed a “zero tolerance" approach, calling for stronger enforcement along land and maritime borders, improved coordination between agencies, and enhanced capacity of enforcement bodies such as the NCB.

Authorities say the focus now is not only on arrests and seizures but also on dismantling the larger networks behind drug trafficking operations in the region.

News india Assam Tops Drug Cases In East & Northeast India, Manipur Leads In Heroin Seizures

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