Lok Sabha Question No. 1623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Drug Abuse and Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1623

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 21, 1947 (SAKA)

## DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING

†1623. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the rapidly increasing problem of drug abuse  among  the  youth  in  the  Sriganganagar-Hanumangarh  Parliamentary Constituency  of  Rajasthan  along  with  cross-border  drug  trafficking,  the misuse of restricted or banned drugs such as Pregabalin (Lyrica), Gabapentin, Clonazepam,  Alprazolam  (Janax),  Etizolam,  Diazepam  and  Tramadol  as intoxicants is rising sharply;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any data available in this regard;

(d) the steps taken by the Government so far to address the easy availability of these drugs, ensure stringent control over medical stores, prevent illegal sales,  maintain  strict  surveillance,  conduct  special  operations  in  border areas and implement awareness programmes for the youth; and

(e) whether the Government is considering to launch any integrated action plan or a special campaign to eradicate this problem in the said Parliamentary Constituency to curb this menace and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)  to  (c)    The  details  of  pharmaceutical  related  Narcotic  Drugs  and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases, quantity seized and persons arrested as reported to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) by various Drug Law

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1623 FOR 10.02.2026

Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) during the period from 2023 to 2025 in the State of Rajasthan is as under:

|   Year | Total Seizure (In Kg)   |   Total Cases |   Total Arrests |
|--------|-------------------------|---------------|-----------------|
|   2023 | 249                     |           367 |             437 |
|   2024 | 1,252                   |           330 |             393 |
|   2025 | 187                     |           268 |             339 |

Source: NCB

Home Department, Government of Rajasthan has reported cases registered, number of arrests in connection with misuse of banned drugs (pharmaceuticals) for the period 2023 to 2025 as under: -

| District      |   Year |   Number of cases registered |   Number arrests | Details of seized narcotics                     |
|---------------|--------|------------------------------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Sriganganagar |   2023 |                           16 |               16 | 14146 tablets/ capsules                         |
| Sriganganagar |   2024 |                          118 |              144 | 237231 tablets/ capsules                        |
| Sriganganagar |   2025 |                          136 |              161 | 708465 tablets/ capsules                        |
| Hanumangarh   |   2023 |                           10 |               24 | 18840 Tramadol, 7200 Alprazolam                 |
| Hanumangarh   |   2024 |                           11 |               16 | 8518 Tramadol, 1160 Pregabalin, 1310 Alprazolam |
| Hanumangarh   |   2025 |                           42 |               62 | 17717 Tramadol, 274655 Pregabalin               |

(d)  &  (e)    Regulatory  control  over  the  sale  and  distribution  of  drugs  is exercised through a system of licensing and inspection by State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) appointed by State Government. SLAs are empowered to take  action  in  case  of  violation  of  regulatory  provisions  of  Drugs  and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules 1945. The drugs listed under Schedule H drugs are required to be sold only on prescription and Schedule H1 drugs are subject to stricter regulatory controls, including enhanced prescription requirements, mandatory record maintenance, and special labeling provisions, to prevent misuse and mitigate public health risk. Further, for Schedule H drug, the label shall  bear  the  warning:  'To  be  sold  by  retail  on  the  prescription  of  a Registered Medical Pr actitioner only.' And, for Schedule H1 drug, the label shall carry a red box warning: 'Schedule H1 drug Warning: It is dangerous to take this preparation except in accordance with medical advice. Not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Reg istered Medical Practitioner.' Isolated complaints are received from time to time on the sale of prescription drugs without prescription and the same are forwarded to the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) concerned for appropriate action. Various notices/Advisories/Letters have been issued to all State Drugs Controllers, other stakeholders for strict compliance of the requirements of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules made thereunder and for raising awareness in the public regarding adverse effects of misuse of drugs.

The Government has taken various steps to prevent drug trafficking and drug demand reduction in the country including State of Rajasthan, some of which are as under: -

(i) Constituted  a  4-tier  Narco-Coordination  Centre  (NCORD)  mechanism which enables coordination among Central and State agencies.

(ii) Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has been established in all States/UTs, which also serves as NCORD secretariats for local enforcement.

(iii) Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has been set up at the Centre and State level to oversee significant drug seizure investigations.

(iv) Border  Guarding  Forces  have  been  empowered  under  the  Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 to carry out search, seizure  and  arrest  for  illicit  trafficking  of  narcotic  drugs  at  international border.

(v) Narcotics Control Bureau coordinates with other agencies like, Navy, Coast  Guard,  Border  Security  Force,  State  ANTF  etc.  to  conduct  joint operations to control the drug trafficking.

(vi) Institutionalizing drone  based  capabilities for aerial surveillance/ reccee/ search/ domination etc. across the border.

(vii) Intelligence  Sharing  and  Controlled  Delivery  (CD)  Operations  with foreign countries are being carried out regularly.

(viii)  To reduce demand, NCB has initiated Mission SPANDAN & Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with 05 spiritual organisations to tackle drug abuse & addiction to Psychotropic substance through awareness & collective action.

(ix) Rallies and Dramas are conducted regularly in association with NGOs to spread      awareness programmes all over the country.

- (x) SMS  alerts  of  Drug  Awareness  are  flashed  through  mobile  service providers on    special occasions.

(xi) Madak-Padarth  Nished  Asoochna  Kendra  (MANAS)-  A  24x7  toll-free helpline (1933) has been established to report drug-related issues via calls, SMS, chatbot, email, or web.

(xii)  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  is  implementing National  Action  Plan  for  Drug  Demand  Reduction  (NAPDDR),  a  centrally sponsored scheme all over the country including State of Rajasthan under which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to:  (i)  State  Governments/  Union Territory Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/ UTs  etc. (ii) NGOs/  Voluntary Organisations for running and maintenance  of  Integrated  Rehabilitation  Centres  for  Addicts  (IRCAs), Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among  Adolescents,  Outreach  and Drop  In Centres  (ODIC) and

District  De-Addiction  Centres  (DDACs)  and  (iii)  Government  Hospitals  for Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs). (xiii)  In compliance with the direction of Director General, Rajasthan, Jaipur, Anti-Narcotics Force Posts have been established in both districts Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh to prevent narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. (xiv) The Rajasthan Police is implementing 'Operation Seema Sankalp' in Sriganganagar  to  curb  drug  trafficking  through  continuous  awareness activities  such  as  WhatsApp  campaigns,  seminars,  rallies,  banners,  wall paintings and drug-free pledges. Alongside this, under the District Administration's ' Drug-Free Sriganganagar ' campaign, de-addiction centres are operated and awareness programs etc. are conducted. Additionally, the Drug Control Department has established a registered portal for 641 medical stores to prevent misuse of narcotic drugs. The District Administration of Hanumangarh is also running a 'Drug -free Hanumangarh' on similar lines.

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