'Rats destroyed drugs, ganja stolen': CAG flags lapses in storage, disposal of narcotics in Gujarat police custody

Ahmedabad: Amid the rising seizure of drugs in the state over the past several years, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has criticized the Gujarat government’s Home Department, stating that it neither established proper storage facilities to prevent theft and deterioration of seized drugs nor ensured their timely disposal.

The CAG report tabled in the state assembly on Wednesday stated that its audit of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) for the period April 2016 to March 2023, revealed that Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) seized 2,968.476 kg of narcotic drugs and controlled substances between February 2016 and February 2023 in 33 cases.

"Out of this, 650.582 kg of drugs seized between 2019 and 2022 remained to be disposed as of February, 2024. Moreover, the drugs were kept in normal rooms instead of safes/vaults provided with a double-locking system, making them prone to theft and pilferage.." the report claimed.

Similarly, records maintained by the office of Additional Director General of Police, CID, Gandhinagar stated that various agencies seized 6,510.54 kg and 848 bottles of narcotic drugs and controlled substances in 17 cases between August 2017 and November 2022.

"The office claimed that it had disposed of all the drugs pertaining to these cases between August 2021 and November 2024. However, there was a significant variation (35 per cent) in the actual quantity disposed between October 2022 and July 2023 vis-a-vis quantity of the drugs seized," the audit has noted.

It stated that the ADGP office attributed the shortfall of drugs to "theft of nearly 144.180 kg of cannabis (Ganja), destruction by rats due to lack of proper storage facilities, and drying out of the green plants of cannabis and opium, and loss of moisture in poppy seeds."

The audit observed that these factors "may partially explain the reduction in the disposed quantity, the overall variation of 35 per cent highlights, the need for a relook at the facilities of storage and disposal of seized drugs, and the shortcomings.."

The audit has also revealed "persistent and widespread non-compliance with statutory procedures prescribed under the NDPS Act, instructions of the ministry of finance and the directions of the Supreme Court for storage and disposal of seized narcotic drugs."

It stated that since the home department couldn't set up secure and dedicated storage facilities and failed to ensure timely disposal of seized drugs it led to "prolonged retention of drugs for periods extending up to three decades and significant shortfall in quantities ultimately disposed."

It noted that "such lapses compromise the integrity of the criminal justice process, increase the risk of diversion of seized drugs into illicit channels and expose public funds and public safety to continuing vulnerability."

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently visiting Gujarat, alleged in a social media post, “More than 2,300 kg of seized drugs were eaten by rats while in Gujarat Police custody. Who are they trying to fool? About 35% of the seized drugs ‘disappeared’ under police watch. How many smugglers were supplied with these seized drugs? Under BJP protection, the drug menace is spreading in Gujarat and destroying lives.”