2,332 kg Drugs Missing in Gujarat — ‘Rats’ Blamed
The March 2026 CAG report revealed that over 2,332 kilograms of seized drugs, nearly 35% of the total stock, are missing from Gujarat police custody due to systemic storage failures.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the Gujarat Assembly in March 2026 has revealed a staggering discrepancy in the state's drug seizure records.
Out of a total of approximately 6,510 kilograms of narcotics seized in various cases—including substantial quantities of ganja and opium—only 4,177 kilograms were officially documented as destroyed. This leaves over 2,332 kilograms, or roughly 35% of the total seized stock, completely unaccounted for.
While officials cited reasons such as the theft of 144 kilograms, weight loss from natural drying, and destruction by rats due to poor storage, the audit concluded that these factors cannot reasonably explain a loss of this magnitude.
The report highlights a systemic failure in the management of seized evidence, pointing to a severe lack of proper record-keeping and monitoring. In many instances, high-risk substances were stored in basic, insecure rooms rather than specialised facilities, and significant delays in the disposal process further increased the risk of theft or damage.
While similar claims of "drug-eating rats" have surfaced in previous years across Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, the scale of the Gujarat shortfall is unprecedented and raises serious concerns regarding the integrity of the legal and custodial processes.
