As the Congress steps up its &ldquo;Nasha Mukt Gujarat&rdquo; campaign led by MLA Jignesh Mevani, fresh official records reveal a sharp surge in drug-related action across the state over the past eight years. The party&rsquo;s outreach programmes, citizen-reporting drives and criticism of the government&rsquo;s prohibition policing have pushed the debate on substance abuse to the political forefront.
Benefit News reviewed multi-year NDPS data that shows drug cases, arrests and the value of narcotics seized have all risen significantly since 2021.
<h2 data-start="668" data-end="726">Statewide Spike in Drug Cases, Arrests and Seizures</h2>
Comparing October 2017&ndash;September 2021 with October 2021&ndash;October 2025:
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Drug cases: 1,108 &rarr; 2,572 (~132% increase)
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Arrests: 1,600 &rarr; 3,643 (~127% increase)
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Seizure weight: 51,896.082 kg &rarr; 101,420.512 kg (nearly doubled)
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Seizure value: Rs 1,049.64 crore &rarr; Rs 12,586.11 crore (~1,099% jump, nearly 12 times)
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</ul>
The most striking shift is the explosion in the value of confiscated narcotics, indicating larger and more organised drug movements through Gujarat.
<h2 data-start="1239" data-end="1281">Where the Biggest Seizures Happened</h2>
From 2021&ndash;25:
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Gujarat ATS reported the highest seizure value: Rs 9,358.23 crore, far above any district.
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Bharuch ranked next with Rs 1,384.95 crore in seizures.
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<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="1473" data-end="1528">
Kutch (West) followed with Rs 939.27 crore.
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</ul>
At the other extreme, districts like Dang&ndash;Ahwa recorded just 2 cases, 3 arrests, and Rs 0.01 crore in seized value. Botad, Amreli and some rural pockets also showed low volumes.
<h2 data-start="1717" data-end="1778">Urban Regions Lead Case Counts; Rural Areas Remain Low</h2>
Urban centres continue to dominate NDPS case numbers:
2021&ndash;25 urban data:
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Surat City: 269 cases, 425 arrests, Rs 45.55 crore in seizures
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Ahmedabad City: 267 cases, 419 arrests
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<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="1979" data-end="2024">
Vadodara City: 119 cases, 173 arrests
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</ul>
Earlier 2017&ndash;21 data shows a similar trend, with Ahmedabad City, Surat City and Rajkot City leading. Meanwhile, districts like Botad, Dang&ndash;Ahwa and Chhota Udepur repeatedly show the lowest enforcement activity, reflecting a consistent urban&ndash;rural divide.
Across 2017&ndash;21, ATS Ahmedabad again reported the highest seizure value: Rs 994.53 crore, far above district-level figures like Aravalli (Rs 4.64 crore) and Surendranagar (Rs 2.27 crore).
<h2 data-start="2478" data-end="2509">What the Numbers Suggest</h2>
Despite Gujarat&rsquo;s long-standing prohibition model, the data shows rapid escalation in both volume and value of narcotics seized. The jump from Rs 1,049.64 crore to Rs 12,586.11 crore in just four years signals more frequent and higher-value trafficking through the state.
Congress leaders say the figures expose the government&rsquo;s failure to contain substance abuse. State agencies counter that higher cases and arrests reflect stronger vigilance.
With the 2021&ndash;25 spike, drug enforcement is likely to remain a defining issue in Gujarat&rsquo;s political battleground in the months ahead.

Drug Hauls Skyrocket Across Gujarat, Data Shows

Seizure value surges from ₹1,049 crore to ₹12,586 crore as NDPS cases more than double

Drug Hauls Skyrocket Across Gujarat, Data Shows

Seizure value surges from ₹1,049 crore to ₹12,586 crore as NDPS cases more than double

December 12, 2025 | 21:09 IST