Budget 2026: Karnataka looks to add pace to war on drugs

Bengaluru: Reaffirming its "zero tolerance for drugs" policy, the Karnataka govt Friday intensified the fight against drug abuse and trafficking by proposing an Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).The govt has allocated Rs 10 crore to bolster the task force. With drug trafficking and consumption emerging as a growing concern, the specialised unit has been envisaged to crack down on drug cartels and dismantle networks involved in the illegal trade, especially in Bengaluru city.
State police data shows that around 6,000 cases are registered every year under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In 2025, the total value of drugs seized was Rs 104 crore. This apart, the state has also proposed enhanced monitoring within prisons through ‘Operation Parishuddikarana', under which sophisticated security inspection equipment such as artificial intrusion detection systems, CCTV cameras, and body-worn cameras will be installed at a cost of Rs 20 crore. The initiative is aimed at preventing the use of mobile phones, marijuana, and other prohibited items, and curbing illegal activities inside prisons. In addition, the govt has announced that de-addiction and rehabilitation centres for addicts below the age of 18 will be set up in Bengaluru and Dharwad. According to police sources, one of the most common requests they receive during public interaction programmes is to crack down on drug peddlers. "ANTF could prove to be a game-changer if a good set of officers is deployed for the job," a police officer said, while pointing to a steady rise in the trafficking and consumption of hydroponic cannabis, or hydro ganja, in Bengaluru.As per official data, at least 220kg of hydro ganja was seized in the city over the past 23 months, indicating a growing demand for the high-potency drug. Of this, around 20kg was seized by city police, while the remaining was recovered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in separate operations. Nearly 100 peddlers were arrested in connection with these cases.Officers from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) registered 17 cases related to hydro ganja smuggling from Thailand, including ones where the contraband was discovered inside parcels stored at a post office in Kempegowda Nagar.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !