Haryana Identifies 71 Drug Cartels, Arrests 6,824 Accused in Nine Months

Haryana has identified 71 drug cartels and arrested 6,824 accused in narcotics-related cases between January and September 2026, as the state steps up efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and strengthen financial and cyber investigations, officials said on Monday.

The measures were reviewed at a high-level meeting of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB), chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi. HSNCB Chairman Sanjay Kumar said a specialised unit was being developed to investigate drug trafficking through the dark web and cryptocurrency transactions. A cyber expert has also been engaged to enhance investigative capabilities.

Haryana Police registered 3,809 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act during the nine-month period, compared with 2,722 cases in the corresponding period last year. Arrests rose from 5,393 to 6,824, marking increases of 39.93 per cent in cases and 26.53 per cent in arrests.

Cases involving intermediate quantities of contraband increased by 50.72 per cent to 2,844, while commercial-quantity cases rose from 346 to 380. Authorities attached properties worth Rs 19.52 crore in 113 cases linked to drug trafficking during the period, compared with Rs 5.92 crore in 49 cases a year earlier.

Between 2022 and September 2026, 176 unauthorised or illegally occupied properties linked to 167 drug traffickers were demolished, officials said.

Drug seizures also increased significantly. Heroin seizures rose from 43.176 kg to 84.695 kg, while opium seizures increased from 235.550 kg to 430.326 kg. Cocaine seizures climbed from 1,004.76 grams to 2,958.757 grams.

The bureau has established a Financial Investigation Cell to trace illicit proceeds and financial networks. As many as 139 police personnel have received specialised training in financial investigations.

Officials also discussed measures to curb the misuse of medicines, including pregabalin, zopiclone and tapentadol, and strengthen monitoring of precursor chemicals used in synthetic drug manufacturing. Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sudhir Rajpal called for a time-bound, multi-pronged strategy to eliminate drug trafficking.