Patna: Nearly a decade after Bihar imposed a complete ban on alcohol, a surge in reported narcotics seizures has raised fresh questions about drug trafficking, substance use and the effectiveness of prohibition. More than 4.13 lakh intoxicating injections were seized in Patna during the first eight months of 2026, while recent operations have uncovered heroin consignments, codeine-based cough syrup and alleged local drug distribution networks.
Five years of seizure data, however, do not indicate a consistent rise across all substances. Ganja seizures increased from 16,607 kg in 2020 to 33,603 kg in 2021, before declining to 13,129 kg in 2023 and recovering to 18,356 kg in 2024. Heroin seizures also fluctuated, falling sharply from 363.77 kg in 2020 to 9.62 kg in 2021, before reaching 53.35 kg in 2024. These figures reflect enforcement activity and cannot independently establish trends in drug consumption.
Investigations suggest Bihar is increasingly featuring in narcotics supply routes connecting the Northeast, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal and other parts of the country. In separate operations, police seized heroin near Patna, smack worth an estimated Rs 4 crore near the Nepal border and 5.14 kg of Nepal-origin charas allegedly destined for Indore. Authorities have also uncovered suspected local networks involved in preparing and distributing narcotics. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 7,500 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup near Patna in May, highlighting concerns over pharmaceutical products entering illicit channels.
The developments have renewed debate over Bihar’s alcohol prohibition, introduced in April 2016. A National Council of Applied Economic Research paper questioned the policy’s outcomes, citing enforcement challenges, illicit liquor trade and concerns about the use of alternative intoxicants, including drugs. However, available evidence does not establish that prohibition directly caused an increase in drug consumption.
Delhi Excise Department Makes P-10 Liquor Permits Mandatory for Banquet Halls and Farmhouses
MP Excise Policy in Focus as Imported Liquor Prices Drop by Up to 40%Bihar’s minister Madan Sahni has argued that higher seizures reflect improved vigilance and that many intercepted consignments are intended for other states. The key challenge is distinguishing increased trafficking from rising local consumption. Comparable data on drug use, addiction treatment, health emergencies and rehabilitation will be essential to establish the scale of Bihar’s drug problem.
About the Author
