UP and Kerala register highest number of drug trafficking cases

Uttar Pradesh and Kerala have topped the chart for most drug trafficking incidents, as nearly 12,000 cases were registered across the country this year and 40.07 lakh kg contrabands seized.

A Union Home Ministry document revealed that 11,784 drug trafficking cases were registered across the country this year till October 31 with UP and Kerala respectively registering 3,469 and 2,446 cases.

Punjab, topper of the drug trafficking chart for the past three years, has only 25 cases this year. With more of its youth lured into the drug use, political parties in Punjab were blaming each other for the menace.

Last year, the country registered 23,680 cases while in 2013, it was 23,037 against 13,263 in 2012. All these years, Punjab had a total of 23,598 cases with 2013 recording the highest number of 10,234 cases.

This year, authorities across the country have seized 40.07 lakh kg of drugs, with banned tablets topping the list with 25.51 lakh kg. Mizoram had seized 14.69 lakh kg of banned tablets. In 2014, 108 lakh kg of contrabands were seized while in 2013, it was 768 lakh kg and in 2012, 144 lakh kg.

The document showed cocaine seizure is the highest this year. Until October, 51.06 kg of cocaine has been seized while it was 14.68 kg last year, 46.77 kg in 2013 and 43.61 kg in 2012.

New Delhi accounted for the highest quantity of 17.77 kg of cocaine, while West Bengal had 13.75 kg of the drug seized and Karnataka 3.54 kg. Authorities also destroyed 11.84 lakh kg of cannabis plant across the country with Odisha taking the lead with11.82 lakh kg.