Drugs remain one of Punjab’s most persistent challenges, with fresh government data and judicial observations this year underlining how deeply the problem has taken root in the border state. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said in a recent interview that drugs were among Punjab’s biggest challenges, with synthetic drugs destroying families, particularly in border villages, according to Outlook India’s report citing his interview with The Indian Express. The renewed attention comes as the Rajya Sabha received fresh figures on drone-based smuggling and the Supreme Court continued to press Punjab authorities over enforcement gaps, matters that concern citizens well beyond the state’s borders.
How Serious Is the Drugs Problem in Punjab, According to Official Data?
Punjab Police registered 51,516 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 67,519 people between March 1, 2025, and July 6, 2026, according to official figures cited by Outlook India. Officials described the campaign as a twin approach combining strict action against drug traffickers with rehabilitation for those battling addiction. Over 10,000 addicts have received immunity from prosecution under Section 64A of the NDPS Act, which allows relief to those charged with consumption or small-quantity possession offences if they voluntarily undergo de-addiction treatment.
What Has the Rajya Sabha Been Told About Drug Trafficking Into Punjab?
Addressing the Rajya Sabha in a written response on July 22, 2026, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said cross-border syndicates are increasingly relying on drones, GPS-enabled payloads and encrypted communications to smuggle narcotics, weapons and ammunition into India. Of 305 drone-related narcotics smuggling incidents recorded nationally in 2025, 298 occurred along the Punjab border, according to the minister’s response, as reported by Rozana Spokesman. The scale of this figure has made drone-based drug trafficking a matter of national security concern, not just a state-level policing issue.
Why Did the Supreme Court Pull Up Punjab Over the Drug Menace?
A Supreme Court bench, in remarks reported in May 2026, said Punjab Police tends to arrest small-level peddlers for publicity while major traffickers, including some influential persons, escape action, according to LiveLaw’s report on the proceedings. The bench, which included the Chief Justice of India, also flagged the heavy pendency of cases registered under the NDPS Act and said it would help facilitate the creation of specialised NDPS courts across states to speed up trials, according to Akashvani News. The court’s intervention added judicial pressure to a debate that has largely played out between the state government, the Governor and opposition parties.
What Is the Punjab Government Doing to Tackle the Menace?
The Punjab government has adopted a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction and prevention, officials have said, and has constituted a five-member committee of cabinet ministers, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to monitor action against drugs. Punjab Police, under Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, has carried out repeated statewide raids targeting drug smugglers and pharmaceutical outlets suspected of selling habit-forming drugs without authorisation. Despite these steps, Governor Kataria’s remarks and the Supreme Court’s observations suggest that gaps in tackling larger trafficking networks remain.
Drugs continue to dominate public discourse in Punjab, with fresh Rajya Sabha data, Supreme Court observations and the Governor’s remarks all pointing to a problem that enforcement drives alone have not resolved. The scale of drone-based drug trafficking along the Punjab border, combined with judicial concern over unaddressed major trafficking networks, suggests the state’s fight against drugs will remain under close scrutiny in the months ahead. Sustained coordination between the Punjab government, central agencies and the judiciary is likely to determine whether current measures translate into a lasting reduction in the drug menace in Punjab.