Assam's Drug Seizures Surge: Over ₹2,919 Crore Confiscated in Five Years
In a significant announcement, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that the state has seized drugs worth ₹2,919 crore in the last five years, a staggering increase compared to previous years. The campaign against illegal drugs has led to over 23,000 arrests since 2021, showcasing the state's commitment to combating drug-related issues. With a notable rise in the market value of confiscated substances and a decrease in crime rates, Assam's efforts in drug enforcement are making a substantial impact. This article delves into the details of these operations and their implications for public safety.
Jan 2, 2026, 16:56 IST
Significant Drug Seizures in Assam
On Thursday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that security forces in the state have confiscated drugs worth ₹2,919 crore over the past five years. This figure is more than seven times the amount seized between 2011 and 2015, which was approximately ₹400 crore. One of the most impactful initiatives during this period has been the campaign against banned drugs and psychotropic substances. Providing further details, Chief Minister Sarma noted that since May 2021, drugs valued at ₹2,170 crore have been destroyed.
Emphasizing the achievements, the Chief Minister stated that over 23,000 arrests related to drug offenses have been made since 2021, nearly quadrupling the total arrests of around 6,000 recorded from 2011 to 2021. The total value of drugs seized in the last five years surpasses ₹2,919 crore, significantly higher than the ₹400 crore seized from 2011 to 2015 and nearly four times the ₹720 crore confiscated from 2016 to 2020.
According to state government data, drugs worth ₹419.47 crore were seized in 2025, ₹658.76 crore in 2024, and ₹722.55 crore in 2023. In 2022, the seizures amounted to ₹735.54 crore, while in 2021, the figure was ₹383.64 crore. In 2025 alone, security forces confiscated 87 kilograms of heroin, 13,812 kilograms of cannabis, 2.727 million psychotropic tablets, 126,000 bottles of cough syrup, 209 kilograms of opium, and 48 kilograms of morphine.
Additionally, in 2022, security forces destroyed over 633 bighas of opium cultivation, targeting the economic backbone of the drug network. The market value of seized narcotics and psychotropic substances (NDPS) rose from ₹179.79 crore in 2020 to ₹735.54 crore in 2022, remaining above ₹650 crore in 2024. In 2025, 3,013 NDPS cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 4,453 individuals. Meanwhile, the crime rate per one lakh population decreased from 379 in 2021 to 123.9 by October 2025, alongside a significant reduction in registered cases.