Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma orders crackdown on drug mafia, border drones
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma wants the drug fight reframed — not as routine policing but as a people's movement. With PITNDPS invocations, property demolitions and a sharper focus on drone smuggling across the Pakistan border, the state is signalling a shift from arrests to dismantling the financial spine of narcotics syndicates.
Key Takeaways
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma chaired a high-level Home Department review in Jaipur on 3 June .
Officials directed to invoke the PITNDPS Act against suspected members of drug syndicates.
Seizure, attachment and demolition of illegally acquired properties of drug mafias ordered.
Border districts to step up surveillance against drone-borne narcotics smuggling.
Coordinated drives ordered against illegally modified vehicles used for narcotics transport.
Public awareness drive to be expanded with women, schools and community groups.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday, 3 June, directed officials to escalate the state's anti-narcotics drive by dismantling organised drug networks, seizing illegally acquired assets of drug mafias and tightening surveillance along border districts vulnerable to drone-borne smuggling. Chairing a high-level review of the Home Department in Jaipur, the Chief Minister pitched for converting a ‘Drug-Free Rajasthan' into a people's movement.
Key Directives to Officials
Sharma instructed enforcement agencies to invoke the stringent PITNDPS Act (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) against suspected members of drug syndicates. He said the financial backbone of drug mafias must be broken through seizure, attachment and demolition of illegally acquired properties.
‘All networks associated with organised drug trafficking, irrespective of their size, must be completely eliminated,' the Chief Minister said, calling for swift inter-departmental coordination.
Border Surveillance and Drone Threat
The Chief Minister flagged the growing use of drones for cross-border narcotics smuggling, particularly in districts adjoining Punjab and Pakistan. He directed District Collectors and Superintendents of Police in border areas to maintain continuous monitoring of suspicious activity and act in close coordination with central agencies.
Rajasthan shares a roughly 1,070 km international border with Pakistan, and frontier districts such as Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer have seen repeated drone-dropped consignments of heroin and contraband in recent years, according to security agency reports.
Awareness as a Mass Movement
Highlighting that drug addiction is a root cause of several crimes and inflicts long-term social and economic damage on families, Sharma directed officials to launch an extensive public awareness campaign. He stressed active participation from social organisations, educational institutions and community groups, and called for the meaningful involvement of women in the campaign.
Crackdown on Modified Vehicles
The Chief Minister also ordered coordinated enforcement drives by the Police, Administration and Transport Department against illegally modified vehicles, which he said are often used to transport narcotics and pose serious road safety risks. He directed strict action against vehicles displaying unauthorised symbols, using prohibited tinted films or window coverings beyond permissible limits.
Who Attended the Meeting
The review was attended by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Akhil Arora and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar A. Sawant, among other senior officials.
With border drone activity on the rise and synthetic drug seizures climbing across north-western India, the next test for the BJP-led state government will be whether enforcement translates into measurable disruption of trafficking routes, not just headline raids.
Point of View
But their record in Rajasthan and neighbouring states has been uneven — high-profile raids often outpace conviction rates. The real measurement should be syndicate dismantling and seizure-to-conviction conversion, not press-release tallies. With Punjab's drug crisis spilling across the border and drones now a routine delivery mechanism, Rajasthan's frontier districts need central coordination, not just state directives.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma announce on drug trafficking?
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma directed officials to dismantle organised narcotics networks, seize and demolish illegally acquired assets of drug mafias, and intensify surveillance in border districts. He chaired a Home Department review in Jaipur on 3 June and called for invoking the PITNDPS Act against drug syndicates.
What is the PITNDPS Act and why is it being invoked?
The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act allows preventive detention of suspected drug traffickers. The Rajasthan government plans to use it against organised syndicate members to disrupt trafficking networks beyond routine criminal prosecution.
Why is border surveillance a focus area?
Rajasthan's border districts adjoining Pakistan have seen repeated drone-dropped narcotics consignments in recent years. The Chief Minister has asked District Collectors and Superintendents of Police in these areas to maintain continuous monitoring and coordinate closely with central agencies.
What action will be taken against modified vehicles?
The Police, Administration and Transport Department will run coordinated drives against illegally modified vehicles, including those with unauthorised symbols, prohibited tinted films or excessive window coverings. The CM said such vehicles are often used for narcotics transport and also threaten road safety.
How will the public be involved in the anti-drug campaign?
The government will launch an extensive awareness campaign engaging social organisations, educational institutions and community groups, with a specific emphasis on women's participation. The aim is to convert ‘Drug-Free Rajasthan' into a mass movement rather than a purely enforcement-led initiative.
