A recent report by the , tabled in the Gujarat Assembly, has raised serious concerns over the handling and storage of seized narcotics in the state. The audit found that authorities seized 6,510.54 kg of narcotic substances between October 2022 and July 2023, of which 4,177.86 kg was destroyed. However, 2,332.68 kg—nearly 35% of the total—has gone missing from police custody.
The disappearance of such a large quantity of contraband has sparked questions about evidence management, storage practices, and the risk of diversion. In response, the state Home Department cited multiple reasons for the missing drugs, including the theft of 144.18 kg of ganja, damage caused by rats, and natural weight loss due to drying of substances like ganja and opium.
The CAG rejected these explanations as insufficient, stating they fail to justify the scale of the loss. The report pointed to serious lapses in storage and disposal systems, noting that the department did not provide a satisfactory account of the missing stock and describing the issue as a major administrative and security failure.
The findings have also raised concerns that some of the missing narcotics may have re-entered illegal circulation.
The CAG has called for urgent corrective measures, including improved storage infrastructure, better forensic handling, and stricter monitoring of seized materials, warning that such lapses could undermine public trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.