Maharashtra’s ports have become the second-largest gateway for narcotic smuggling into India, trailing only Gujarat. According to data made available, drug seizures worth over Rs 2,367 crore were recorded at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Mumbai and Raigarh Container Freight Station between 2020 and 2024, accounting for 20.9% of the national total.
Maharashtra’s rising role is evident from repeated interceptions at JNPA—191 kg of heroin in 2020 and 294 kg in 2021 while jumping in 2022 with heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. A smaller 29 kg heroin seizure at Raigarh that year reinforced the state’s vulnerability.
Gujarat ports, led by Mundra and Gandhidham, accounted for nearly 65% of narcotics seized, valued at more than Rs 7,300 crore. A single 2,988 kg heroin haul at Mundra in 2021 underlined the state’s emergence as the main entry point for global drug cartels.
Beyond these, Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin port recorded a cocaine seizure worth Rs 1515 crore in 2021, making it the third major hot spot. In contrast, West Bengal’s Kolkata port reported drugs worth only Rs 78 crore, just 0.7% of the total.
Overall, Gujarat and Maharashtra together accounted for more than 85% of port-based drug seizures. Tamil Nadu followed with 13.4%, while West Bengal remained negligible.
Official data noted that no seizures were recorded at Visakhapatnam, Cochin, Chennai, Mangalore, Paradip, Kandla, or Port Blair in the last five years. However, this does not imply these ports are free from trafficking; it may reflect limited detection or trafficker’s reliance on high-volume western gateways.
It is said that Concentration of seizures in Gujarat and Maharashtra reflects cargo volumes and proximity to global routes. With most cases still under trial, the real challenge remains dismantling the networks behind these consignments.
| Drug Seizures at Indian Ports (2020–2024) | |||
| State | 2020-2024 - Quantity (KG) | Total Value # | |
| Gujarat | 3407 | 94.19 Lakh* | 7,350 |
| Maharashtra | 1214 | 2,367 | |
| Tamil Nadu | 303 | 1,515 | |
| West Bengal | 39 | 1000** | 78 |
| Total | 4963 | 11,310 | |
| * Tablets, **Injections, #Cr. INR | |||
