Assam: Over Rs 1800 crore worth of drugs seized in three years — where have they gone
Guwahati: Assam has witnessed a significant crackdown on narcotics and drugs in the past two years, with police seizing a staggering amount of contraband substances worth over Rs 1,800 crore.
The crackdown on drug smuggling by the Assam Police began in May 2021 and has continued through to the present day.
A stringent crackdown on narcotics and drugs has resulted in the seizure of more than 160 kg of heroin, 31,000 kg of ganja and other contraband substances, worth a total of over Rs 1,800 crore, between May 2021 and January 2024, reports say.
Reports say that between July 2021 and July 2022, drugs worth Rs 68 crore were destroyed in different districts of the state.
During the period from July 2021 to March 2024, Assam police destroyed 20.45 kg of seized morphine, 2.89 kg of crystal meth, 200.18 kg of heroin, 681,674.75 kg of ganja, 1,134.71 kg of opium, 18.603 kg of brown sugar, 662,036 bottles of Phensydile cough syrup, and 6,205,636 Yaba tablets in Diphu, Golaghat, Hojai, Nagaon, Karimganj, Barpeta, Cachar, Guwahati, Dhubri, and Hailakandi districts.
On the other hand, a total of 31 bighas, 3 katha and 12 lessa land used for illegal cannabis cultivation was eradicated. The efforts extended to opium cultivation, with a massive 658 bigha of land being cleared.
According to reports, during the period from January 2024 to May 10, 2024, police seized around 40.57 kilograms of various drugs.
The recent operations in May 2024 have seen substantial hauls, further denting the illicit drug trade in the state.
On May 10, 2024, police intercepted and seized 1.2 kg of heroin, estimated to be worth approximately 7 crore rupees. This was preceded by another interception on May 9, where 420 grams of heroin were confiscated.
The month of April 2024 witnessed significant seizures as well, with 1.5 kg of heroin valued at over Rs 12 crore being intercepted on April 28. Additionally, on April 21, police seized 4000 narcotic capsules and cough syrup, tightening the noose on the distribution network.
Further intensifying their operation, Assam Police confiscated 41 grams of heroin on April 18, followed by a massive haul on April 4, where 21.5 kg of heroin, valued at a staggering Rs 210 crore, were seized.
March 2024 proved to be equally impactful, with multiple seizures including 10,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 2 crore on March 31, and 1.531 kg of heroin and 460 grams of methamphetamine on March 30.
| Year | Quantity | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57.87 kgs of Heroin, 10,494 Yaba tablets, 4 packets of foreign cigarettes | Over Rs 1100 crore |
| 2023 | 34.2 kgs of Heroin, 1,20,440 Yaba tablets, 33 grams of Cocaine, 11.64 grams of MDMA, 36 kg of Opium, 637.28 grams of Heroin, 270 gm heroin,Other Drugs | Over Rs 718 crore |
| 2022 | 34.2 kgs of Heroin, 1,20,440 Yaba tablets, 33 grams of Cocaine, 11.64 grams of MDMA, 36 kg of Opium, 637.28 grams of Heroin, 270 gm heroin,Other Drugs | 781 crores |
| 2021 | 34.2 kgs of Heroin, 1,20,440 Yaba tablets, 33 grams of Cocaine, 11.64 grams of MDMA, 36 kg of Opium, 637.28 grams of Heroin, 270 gm heroin, Other Drugs | Over Rs 548.53 crore |
The year 2023 saw significant success as well, with Assam Police seizing drugs worth Rs 718 crore and arresting over 4,700 drug traffickers. During the year, around 181.71 kilograms of drugs were seized.
Major seizures included heroin, opium, yaba tablets, and other psychotropic substances.
In 2022, the focus seemed to be on heroin and yaba tablets, with seizures exceeding Rs 781 crore. Large quantities of ganja (cannabis) were also recovered throughout the year.
The groundwork for this ongoing effort appears to have been laid in 2021. Assam Police seized drugs valued at over Rs 548 crore during that year, with a large quantity destroyed later in the year.
Heroin again dominated the seizures, with other notable recoveries including large amounts of heroin and ganja.