Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma says actual drug use may reach 13%, urging lawful enforcement and stronger public cooperation statewide
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KOHIMA — The actual number of drug users in Nagaland could be almost double the estimated figure, with between 10% and 13% of the state's population possibly using drugs, Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said on June 26.
Addressing the observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Sharma said that United Nations-backed studies estimate that 5% to 6% of Nagaland's population uses drugs. However, he argued that the actual figure is likely to be much higher because many users do not disclose their drug use during surveys.
“The incidents of drug users in the state are higher—maybe about 10% to 13%,” he suggested.
Referring to the national scenario, Sharma said official estimates indicate that 5% to 6% of India's population uses or abuses drugs.
However, he felt that the actual figure could be 9% to 10%, as many users remain unreported.
The DGP also cautioned civil society organisations (CSOs), village authorities and other bodies against taking the law into their own hands by imposing fines on suspected drug users.
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Citing instances where organisations had allegedly detained drug users and imposed penalties, Sharma cautioned that such actions amounted to extortion.
“No NGO or CSO has any authority to impose fines. Their only power is to detain a person, if necessary, and immediately inform the police,” he said.
He urged drug users and members of the public to report incidents in which organisations allegedly collect money from suspects, assuring that police would register such cases as extortion where appropriate.
Sharma also appealed to village councils and student bodies to hand over drug users or peddlers they apprehend to the police instead of dealing with them independently.
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He further advised against the practice of excommunicating drug users from villages or colonies, saying it merely shifts the problem elsewhere rather than addressing addiction.
“The best course of action is to report such cases to the police,” he said.
The DGP also warned people not to allow unknown persons to use their bank accounts or keep belongings in their homes, saying they could face prosecution if narcotics are later recovered from their possession.
According to Sharma, Nagaland Police registered 766 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between 2023 and 2026, arresting 1,174 people, including 958 men and 216 women.