Ahmedabad: The journey of seized narcotics in Gujarat often begins with a high-stakes police raid, but according to an audit report, in some cases it ends in a decades-long saga of neglect and mysterious disappearances.

A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), released on Wednesday, has flagged serious lapses in the storage and disposal of seized narcotics by the Gujarat Home Department, recommending the creation of dedicated storage facilities and strict adherence to prescribed timelines for disposal.

The audit found discrepancies in the quantity of seized narcotics across several police units, with authorities attributing the shortfall to theft, damage by rodents, drying, and moisture loss. The CAG observed that these reasons did not fully account for the extent of the missing stock. As per rules, seized narcotics must be deposited in secured vaults within 48 hours, examined by forensic laboratories, and disposed of through a designated Drugs Disposal Committee after due legal procedure.

However, the audit noted delays at multiple stages, including pending forensic reports, late submission of applications before magistrates, prolonged storage, and failure to initiate disposal even after receiving forensic clearance. In several instances, seized drugs were stored in ordinary rooms instead of secure vaults, increasing the risk of theft or pilferage.

According to the report, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized 2,968.476 kg of narcotics in 33 cases between 2016 and 2023. Of this, 650.582 kg, seized between 2019 and 2022, had not been disposed of as of February 2024.

The audit also found delays in filing applications before magistrates. In 36 cases, applications were filed between 34 and 2,816 days after receiving forensic reports, against the prescribed limit of 30 days, while in one case the application date was not available.

The CID Crime office claimed that all seized drugs were disposed of between 2021 and 2024, but the audit found that only 4,177.86 kg had actually been destroyed. The shortfall included theft of 144.180 kg of ganja, loss due to rodents, and reduction in weight due to drying and moisture loss.

In Bharuch district, the audit found that police stations could not account for 24.5 kg of charas and ganja. In 12 cases, forensic reports were pending for periods ranging from one to 23 years, delaying further legal action. The CAG noted that such lapses increase the risk of diversion of narcotics into illegal channels and undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system.

The findings were communicated to the state government in July 2025, but no response had been received till November 2025, the report said.

Regarding these lapses, the CAG report stated, “From the above, it can be inferred that the Home Department neither established proper storage facilities to prevent theft and destruction of drugs nor disposed of the seized drugs expeditiously.”

It further noted, “In the absence of specific guidelines regarding acceptable limits of weight loss due to evaporation and weather factors, the loss attributed to such reasons lacked justification.”

Recommendation: The Home Department may ensure the setting up of proper storage facilities exclusively for seized narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as mandated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, and notify a detailed timeline for the disposal of seized drugs. DeshGujarat