₹3,253 Crore Drugs Seized, 26,500 Arrested in Assam Since 2021: Sarma

Assam has arrested more than 26,500 people and confiscated narcotic substances valued at over ₹3,253 crore since 2021 as part of its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

In a social media post, Sarma said the Assam Police and allied agencies had maintained a relentless focus on combating the narcotics trade under the #AssamAgainstDrugs campaign. He said the figures reflected a continuing effort rather than a short-term enforcement drive.

According to the chief minister, arrests have increased steadily over the years, rising from 4,175 in 2021 to 4,901 in 2025. Sarma described the campaign as a “sustained and institutionalised war” against drugs.

Explaining Assam’s position in the narcotics supply chain, Sarma said the state’s geography makes it a key transit corridor for drugs originating in Myanmar. He said narcotic substances enter Assam through routes in neighbouring Mizoram and Manipur before being moved further into other parts of the country.

The chief minister said drug trafficking networks often involve kingpins operating beyond India’s borders, making coordination between states and the Centre essential to tackling the problem.

Sarma credited the central government’s support for strengthening Assam’s anti-narcotics operations. He pointed to enhanced coordination with Myanmar, tighter surveillance along inter-state borders, improved intelligence sharing and greater use of technology to detect and intercept drug consignments.

He also stressed that Assam Police were not working in isolation, but as part of a broader national effort to curb the illegal drug trade.

Sarma became Assam chief minister for the first time in 2021 after the BJP returned to power in the state for a second consecutive term. Since then, the state government has repeatedly highlighted its anti-drug campaign as a major law-and-order priority.