Tripura records 2.46 lakh kg drug seizures in six years, ranking fourth nationally, as Parliament data reveals shifting trafficking patterns, rising recoveries in 2025, and expanded AI-driven border enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Tripura, one of India’s smallest border states, has emerged as a significant front in the country’s fight against narcotics trafficking, with law enforcement agencies recovering a cumulative 2.46 lakh kilograms of drugs over the past six years. According to data presented in Parliament, the state ranks fourth nationally in total cannabis-based drug seizures, just behind Uttar Pradesh, which recorded 2.47 lakh kilograms during the same period.
The figures, shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, reveal that between 2020 and November 2025, a staggering 38.89 lakh kilograms of cannabis-based drugs—including ganja, hashish, and hashish oil—were seized across the country. The annual trend shows fluctuations, with seizures standing at 5.88 lakh kilograms in 2020 and peaking at 8.16 lakh kilograms in 2021. This was followed by a steady decline over the next three years: 7.22 lakh kilograms in 2022, 6.32 lakh kilograms in 2023, and 5.4 lakh kilograms in 2024. However, 2025 marked a reversal, with recoveries rising again to 5.89 lakh kilograms.
Assam also featured prominently in the national tally, accounting for nearly 1.94 lakh kilograms of cannabis-based drug seizures during the six-year period. The data highlights the Northeast as a critical corridor in India’s anti-drug operations, given its strategic location and porous international borders.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed Parliament that the government has intensified efforts to curb trafficking by deploying advanced surveillance technologies. These include an integrated grid system equipped with artificial intelligence features, radars, and motion detectors. The use of drones along sensitive border stretches has also been standardized to monitor trafficking routes and intercept illegal consignments more effectively.
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In addition, border guarding forces such as the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to conduct searches and seizures. The Centre has also strengthened international cooperation with neighboring countries and global enforcement agencies to dismantle transnational drug syndicates operating across borders.
While Tripura’s high ranking underscores the scale of enforcement activity in the state, Odisha topped the national list by a wide margin. The eastern state recorded cumulative recoveries of 10.65 lakh kilograms over the six-year period and consistently led annual seizure charts, according to the government data.
The statistics also indicate shifting trafficking patterns across India. Rajasthan, for instance, witnessed a sharp surge in drug recoveries. From 14,826 kilograms in 2020, seizures in the state jumped dramatically to 58,146 kilograms in 2025, signaling a growing challenge in the region. West Bengal similarly recorded an increase, with recoveries rising from 25,979 kilograms in 2020 to 32,456 kilograms in 2025.
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In contrast, some traditional hotspots reported declining seizure figures. Andhra Pradesh, which logged the second-highest cumulative total of 5.5 lakh kilograms over six years, saw annual recoveries fall steeply from a peak of over 2.01 lakh kilograms in 2021 to 44,182 kilograms in 2025. Chhattisgarh and Karnataka reflected similar trends. Seizures in Chhattisgarh dropped from 36,211 kilograms in 2020 to 15,235 kilograms in 2025, while Karnataka’s figures declined from 21,657 kilograms to 6,746 kilograms over the same period.
The evolving data underscores both the scale of India’s anti-drug operations and the changing geography of narcotics trafficking. With enhanced technology, empowered border forces, and stronger international coordination, authorities aim to sustain pressure on trafficking networks and adapt swiftly to emerging routes and methods.
