Statistics from Kerala’s excise and police departments reveal contrasting trends in the registration of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for the current year. The excise department recorded 8,622 NDPS Act cases by August 2025, surpassing the 8,160 cases in 2024 and 8,104 in 2023. A senior Excise official attributed this increase to both rising drug inflow into Kerala and intensified enforcement, noting that a higher case count could indicate increased drug abuse. This surge was also reflected in an increased number of arrests by the department.
In contrast, the police department registered 25,262 narcotic cases until July 2025. This figure is lower than the 27,530 cases in 2024 and 30,697 in 2023, indicating a year-over-year decline in cases reported by police.
A significant concern for enforcement agencies is the growing involvement of students. By August 2025, the excise department had arrested 312 students, including minors, in drug-related cases. Furthermore, 18 drug seizure incidents were reported by excise from educational institutions, with 13 of these occurring in Ernakulam district (five in schools and eight in colleges).
In response, authorities have strengthened surveillance near educational institutions.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com