Himachal : Drug trade flourishing in medical stores under the guise of medicines

“Medical stores and local networks are running the illegal drug trade. The drug trade is flourishing under the guise of medicines. Trafficking figures have reached record levels in a decade”

Mandi 14/10/2025 According to media reports

The quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, opium doda, and van drugs seized in Himachal Pradesh bear testimony to the ongoing smuggling.

Police and Narcotics Department operations from 2015 to 2025 have resulted in the seizure of large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, injections, opium doda, MDMA, LSD, and other narcotics.

Investigations have also revealed that some medical stores and local distribution networks are becoming major conduits for this illegal trade. According to official data, 188,463 tablets and 88,978 capsules were seized in 2015.

Additionally, large quantities of LSD, opium poppy, and other narcotics in powder form were seized. Seizures of opium poppy from 82.405 kg in 2019 increased to 190.615 kg in 2021.

In 2023, this figure further increased to 625 kg, along with the seizure of 31 kg of opium seeds. The situation worsened in 2025.

So far this year, 41.145 kg of opium poppy, 14.37 grams of methacolone, and 20.024 grams of MDMA have been seized. Additionally, large quantities of hashish oil, tramadol powder, and other narcotics were also seized.

Drug cases continue to rise in the state

Synthetic drugs such as MDMA (221.888 grams) and LSD (95 grams) have also increased. The seizure of 18.27 grams of amphetamine mexaline in 2024 and 14.37 grams of methaclone in 2025 further highlights this threat. 21.688 grams of MDMA were seized in 2022 and 20.024 grams in 2025.

More than four million tablets seized

The number of tablets seized has increased since 2021. The highest number of tablets seized was 3,068,184 in 2021. In 2015, 188,463 tablets were seized, followed by 134,520 in 2017 and 79,093 in 2025. This ten-year figure is more than four million.

Police increased surveillance on medical stores

The Narcotics Control Bureau and police have vowed to take strict measures to curb this illegal trade. DGP Ashok Tiwari is running an awareness campaign using social media.

Statistics of drug seizures over the past ten years

Year 2015: 188463 tablets, 88978 capsules, 3280 syrups, 20 injections, 171.105 grams of MDM, 95 grams of LSD, 7.400 kg of doda, 36 LSD papers, 4.943 kg of powder.
Year 2016: 55280 tablets, 77243 caps, 3029 bits of syrup, 471 injections, 4.257 kg of opium doda, 22.80 grams of white powder.
Year 2017: 134520 tablets, 105897 caps, 165880 bits of syrup, 53 injections, 2.792 kg of solid char oil, and 10.296 liters of char oil.
Year 2018: 55561 tablets, 88166 caps, syrup. 1143 pieces, 1097 injections
Year 2019: 102956 caps, 19724 tablets, 9848 pieces of syrup, 82.405 kg of opium poppy seeds, 468 injections, 12 bags of cannabis seeds, 10 bags of cannabis seeds
Year 2020: 46370 caps, 118145 tablets, 940 pieces of syrup, 17 bags of opium seeds, 228 grams of opium, 4.002 grams of MDM, 77.29 grams of LSD paper, 96 grams of brown powder, 77.29 grams of intoxicating powder, 1.050 kg of cannabis seeds
Year 2021: 190.615 kg of doda, 3.780 grams of codeine, 13976 caps, 3068184 tablets, 265 pieces of syrup, and injections 21, opium doda 113.610 kg, salt 187 grams, tramadol powder 971.176 kg, LSD paper 55
Year 2022: MDM 1.079, hashish oil 52 grams, opium doda 27.518 kg, tablets 21768, caps 5968, syrup 807, injections 28, MDM 21.688 grams, MDM 0.67 grams, salt 11.004 grams, LSD paper 1
Year 2023: Doda 625 kg, 3.188 kg, opium seed 31 kg, ketamine 58 grams, hashish oil 1.207 kg, tablets 53611, caps 43702, syrup 1635, injections 25, intoxicated powder 2.96 grams
Year 2024: 35,682 tablets, 5.264 kg of tablets, 18,991 caps, 48 syrups, 36 injections, 18.27 grams of amphetamine mexaline, 3.320 grams of MDM, 250 grams of opium doda.
2025: By August – 79,093 tablets, 19,428 caps, 76 syrups, 63 injections, 41.145 kg of opium doda, 14.37 grams of methacolone, 20.024 grams of MDM seized.