Madhya Pradesh sets April 1 deadline for 3 year push towards drug-free state

The Madhya Pradesh government has unveiled a comprehensive three-year action plan aimed at eradicating illicit drugs from the state, with a focused strategy to dismantle organised drug mafia networks operating across major cities and border districts, officials said on Friday.

The roadmap was finalised during a high-level meeting held at the Police Headquarters on Thursday, in line with directives issued by the APEX Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 9. The meeting was chaired by Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana .

Addressing senior police officials, Makwana said the state would pursue the goal of a “ drug-free India ” with renewed determination for the next three years, beginning April 1. Drawing a parallel with previous security achievements, he said Madhya Pradesh had eliminated Naxalism four months ahead of schedule (December 2025 deadline) and must now treat narcotics as an equally serious challenge.

The DGP said the state police’s awareness initiative, “Drugs are a Distance” , launched last year, had received a strong public response and would be further strengthened. The new action plan prioritises breaking drug supply chains, reducing demand, improving conviction rates, and ultimately building a drug-free society.

Under the strategy, police will identify and act against drug trafficking hotspots in districts such as Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Bhopal, and Indore , which have emerged as key transit and distribution points due to their proximity to interstate and international routes. The plan also includes dismantling financial networks supporting the drug trade and preventing its spread to new districts.

Makwana directed officials to work with the Sports and Youth Welfare Department and social organisations to create a robust prevention framework, including a strict ban on the sale of narcotics near educational institutions. A monitoring mechanism will also be developed to regulate the use of industrial chemicals and ensure they are not diverted for manufacturing synthetic drugs.

Briefly outlining the scale of the drug problem in Madhya Pradesh, the DGP cited several major enforcement successes in 2025. The Narcotics Wing raided illegal clandestine laboratories in Neemuch, seizing MD drugs worth several crores of rupees. In another case, 31 grams of cocaine valued at Rs 15.5 lakh was recovered from an African national in Indore.

According to police data, 1,44,025 kg of seized narcotics worth Rs 347 crore were destroyed in 2025 . To weaken traffickers financially, properties worth Rs 301.41 crore were confiscated under the SAFEMA Act in 54 operations, with Mandsaur and Neemuch districts accounting for a significant share.

Additional Director General of Police (Narcotics Wing) K P Venkateshwar Rao and senior officers from multiple departments attended the meeting, underscoring the coordinated, multi-agency approach planned to tackle the drug menace in the state.