India Seizes Nearly 39 Lakh Kg of Cannabis Since 2020; Odisha Leads the List
Nearly 39 lakh kg cannabis seized in India since 2020, Odisha leads with over 27%.
India’s drug enforcement agencies have seized a staggering 38.89 lakh kg of cannabis-based drugs, including ganja, hashish, and hashish oil, between 2020 and November 2025, the Union Home Ministry informed Parliament on Wednesday. Odisha accounted for over 27% of the total seizures, topping the national chart in cumulative recoveries.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), annual seizures peaked at 8.16 lakh kg in 2021, followed by a gradual decline to 5.4 lakh kg in 2024. The trend reversed in 2025, with 5.89 lakh kg seized till November, reflecting intensified enforcement efforts and evolving trafficking patterns across states.
Odisha led the six-year tally with 10.65 lakh kg recovered, while Rajasthan witnessed a sharp increase in seizures from 14,826 kg in 2020 to 58,146 kg in 2025. West Bengal also reported a rise, from 25,979 kg to 32,456 kg over the same period, indicating growing challenges in eastern India.
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Conversely, traditional hotspots such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka saw notable declines. Andhra Pradesh’s annual seizures fell from 2.01 lakh kg in 2021 to just 44,182 kg in 2025, while Karnataka’s dropped from 21,657 kg to 6,746 kg, reflecting changing cultivation and trafficking patterns.
The Northeast emerged as a significant region for cannabis seizures. Tripura recorded 2.46 lakh kg cumulatively, placing it just behind Uttar Pradesh (2.47 lakh kg), while Assam accounted for nearly 1.94 lakh kg over the six years, highlighting the region’s strategic role in drug enforcement.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said advanced technologies such as AI-integrated grids, drones, radars, and motion detectors are being deployed along borders to track trafficking routes. He added that border guarding forces like the BSF, Assam Rifles, and SSB have been empowered under the NDPS Act, alongside strengthened international cooperation to dismantle transnational drug syndicates.
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