Assam NDPS court jails 3 drug smugglers 15 years for 2.146 kg meth haul
Synopsis
A Guwahati NDPS court handed three drug traffickers 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each for smuggling over 2 kg of methamphetamine — a case the NCB built over nearly six years from seizure to sentencing. The verdict signals judicial zero-tolerance for commercial-quantity narcotics trafficking in a region that has emerged as a key meth transit corridor.
Key Takeaways
Special NDPS court in Kamrup (Metro), Assam sentenced Shakil Khan , Md.
Yahiya Khan , and Mithilesh Kumar to 15 years rigorous imprisonment each on 3 September 2026 .
The trio was convicted for trafficking 2.146 kg of methamphetamine tablets seized in Guwahati on 14 October 2020 .
Each convict was fined ₹2 lakh , with an additional one year of imprisonment in case of default.
The NCB Guwahati Zonal Unit secured the conviction under Sections 22(c), 28, 29, 35, and 54 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
The NCB urged citizens to report drug trafficking via the MANAS helpline (1933) .
A special NDPS court in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district sentenced three narcotics traffickers to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each on 3 September 2026, after convicting them for smuggling 2.146 kg of methamphetamine tablets in Guwahati. Each convict was also fined ₹2 lakh, with a default clause of one additional year in prison for non-payment. The conviction was secured by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Guwahati Zonal Unit in a case that originated in October 2020.
How the Seizure Unfolded
On 14 October 2020, NCB's Guwahati unit, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted the accused near Rehaman Hospital Private Limited on VIP Road in the Six Mile-Khanapara area of Guwahati. The methamphetamine — in tablet form — was recovered from three individuals: Shakil Khan and Md. Yahiya Khan, both from Manipur, and Mithilesh Kumar of Bihar. All three were arrested on the spot and a case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Trial and Conviction
The NCB filed its complaint before the court on 8 April 2021. After completion of the trial, the Special NDPS Judge at Kamrup (Metro) found all three accused guilty under Sections 22(c), 28, 29, 35, and 54 of the NDPS Act — provisions that cover possession, trafficking, and conspiracy related to psychotropic substances. The judgment, pronounced on 3 September 2026, handed each convict the maximum applicable sentence for commercial-quantity drug trafficking.
What the NCB Said
The NCB described the verdict as a reaffirmation of the judiciary's resolve against organised narcotics networks. 'Those indulging in organised drug trafficking shall face no sympathy of the Court. The menace of narcotics must be dealt with an iron hand to safeguard the youth and protect the society at large,' the agency said in a statement. The bureau also urged citizens to report drug-related information via the MANAS helpline at 1933.
Broader Context
The case is notable for the nearly six-year journey from seizure to sentencing — a timeline that reflects the procedural demands of NDPS prosecutions. Assam and its neighbouring northeastern states have long been identified as transit corridors for methamphetamine, locally referred to as 'yaba', flowing in from Myanmar. This conviction adds to a series of NCB enforcement actions in the region, where cross-border trafficking networks involving multiple states have become a persistent challenge for federal anti-narcotics agencies.
Point of View
But the pipeline from Myanmar shows no sign of narrowing. The real measure of deterrence will be whether enforcement capacity scales alongside sentencing resolve.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Guwahati NDPS court verdict in the methamphetamine trafficking case?
A special NDPS court in Kamrup (Metro), Assam sentenced three convicts — Shakil Khan, Md. Yahiya Khan, and Mithilesh Kumar — to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each on 3 September 2026 for trafficking 2.146 kg of methamphetamine tablets. Each was also fined ₹2 lakh.
When and where was the methamphetamine seized?
The NCB's Guwahati Zonal Unit seized 2.146 kg of methamphetamine in tablet form on 14 October 2020, near Rehaman Hospital Private Limited on VIP Road in the Six Mile-Khanapara area of Guwahati.
Who are the three convicted drug smugglers?
The three convicts are Shakil Khan and Md. Yahiya Khan, both from Manipur, and Mithilesh Kumar from Bihar. All three were arrested at the scene of the seizure in Guwahati in October 2020.
Under which legal provisions were the convicts found guilty?
The Special NDPS Judge found all three guilty under Sections 22(c), 28, 29, 35, and 54 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which cover possession, trafficking, and conspiracy related to psychotropic substances.
How can citizens report drug trafficking in Assam?
The NCB has urged the public to report drug-related information through the MANAS helpline at the toll-free number 1933.
