In a disturbing trend, Himachal Pradesh, already grappling with a growing drug problem, has recorded the second-highest crime rate in drug trafficking cases in the country for the second consecutive year.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2024, the state registered 17.2 cases per lakh population related to possession of drugs meant for trafficking. Punjab recorded the highest crime rate in such cases, with 19.6 incidents per lakh population during the same period.
The report noted that Himachal Pradesh had also ranked second in the country in 2023 for offences related to drug trafficking, indicating a continuing pattern.
NCRB data further showed that in 2024 the state registered a total of 1,715 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. This translates to 22.8 cases per lakh population. With this, Himachal stands fourth in the country in terms of NDPS cases per lakh population, after Kerala, Punjab and Mizoram, which recorded 75.5, 29 and 27.2 cases per lakh population respectively.
The national average for cases filed under the NDPS Act is 7.8 per lakh population, significantly lower than Himachal’s figures. The data also revealed that out of the total NDPS cases, 1,292 were related to possession of drugs for trafficking purposes. Another 423 cases were registered for possession of drugs meant for personal consumption.
In addition, Himachal Pradesh registered 4,627 cases under various liquor and narcotic drugs-related laws. The state recorded 61.5 such cases per lakh population, placing it ninth highest in the country under this category.
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