Drug trafficking in Kumaon is no longer limited to the plains. Figures cited in a report show that Uttarakhand Police seized 49,797 intoxicating pills and 1,889 injections across the division between January and September 2026.
During the same period, police registered 439 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 569 people. The figures indicate a continuing challenge for law enforcement across both the Terai districts and the hill areas.
Udham Singh Nagar accounts for most pill seizures
Udham Singh Nagar recorded the largest seizure of intoxicating pills, with 47,629 tablets recovered from the district. This represented approximately 96% of the 49,797 pills seized across Kumaon during the 9-month period.
Recoveries were also reported from hill districts. Police seized 1,968 intoxicating pills in Champawat and 200 in Nainital district.
The distribution of seizures shows that the Terai remains a major centre for pill trafficking, while the presence of recoveries in the hills points to a wider spread of the supply network.
Nainital leads injection recoveries
Nainital recorded the highest number of seized intoxicating injections, with 1,161 recoveries. Champawat followed with 391 injections, while 337 were seized in Udham Singh Nagar.
The district-wise figures show that different parts of Kumaon are facing different forms of illegal drug supply. Pill seizures were concentrated in Udham Singh Nagar, while Nainital accounted for the largest share of injection recoveries.
Smack and charas also seized
Police also recovered 8.345 kilograms of smack and 54.192 kilograms of charas from across Kumaon during the 9-month period.
These seizures add to concern over the availability of both synthetic and traditional narcotic substances in the region. The reported figures suggest that trafficking routes are reaching beyond the plains and into the hill districts.
Focus turns to larger suppliers
Despite repeated enforcement action and substantial recoveries, identifying the people directing the wider supply chain remains a challenge. The report questions whether police action has focused mainly on small-level sellers, or “peddlers”, rather than the principal suppliers and larger traffickers.
According to the report, major suppliers are yet to be brought within the reach of investigators. Without action against those alleged to operate the wider network, disrupting the supply chain from the Terai to the hills remains difficult.
The available figures record arrests, cases and seizures, but they do not establish that every arrested person was guilty. Any further legal outcome would depend on the investigation and court process.
Conclusion
The January-to-September 2026 figures show extensive drug seizures and 569 arrests across Kumaon, with Udham Singh Nagar leading pill recoveries and Nainital topping injection seizures. The central challenge identified in the report is tracing the larger suppliers behind the local distribution network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many people were arrested in Kumaon between January and September 2026?
Police arrested 569 people during the period covered by the figures.
Q. How many NDPS Act cases were registered?
A total of 439 cases were registered under the NDPS Act.
Q. Which district recorded the most intoxicating pill seizures?
Udham Singh Nagar recorded the highest recovery, with 47,629 pills seized.
Q. How many pills were seized across Kumaon?
Police seized 49,797 intoxicating pills across the Kumaon division.
Q. Which district led in intoxicating injection seizures?
Nainital led with 1,161 injections seized.
Q. How much smack and charas were recovered?
The reported recoveries included 8.345 kilograms of smack and 54.192 kilograms of charas.
Q. What concern has been raised about the police action?
The report raises the concern that enforcement has largely caught small-level sellers, while major suppliers and larger traffickers remain outside investigators’ reach.
Q. Does an arrest establish guilt?
No. An arrest records police action, while guilt can be established only through the legal and court process.
