Shifts seen in extortion and drugs
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | April 10
Crime in Nagaland recorded a notable increase in 2025, with a rise in overall cases, extortion incidents, and drug-related seizures, according to an official report.
The State recorded 1,400 cognisable offences in 2025, comprising 1,003 cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and 397 cases under Special & Local Laws (SLL), as per data from the Nagaland Police section of the Annual Administrative Report 2025–26 (AAR) of the Home Department.
This represents an increase of about 21% from 1,158 cases in 2024.
Among serious offences, the report indicated a sharp rise in extortion cases, increasing from 60 to 78 during the same period, reflecting nearly a 30% increase. Murder cases also rose from 11 in 2024 to 14 in 2025.
Cases registered under the Arms Act remained relatively stable, increasing marginally from 53 to 54.
However, while the number of arms seized declined slightly from 56 to 50, there was a significant rise in ammunition seizures from 333 rounds in 2024 to 1,432 rounds in 2025. The number of magazines seized also more than doubled from 40 to 85.
Incidents linked to Naga Political Groups (NPGs) remained largely unchanged, with 100 cases recorded in 2025 compared to 99 in 2024. However, 160 cadres arrested in 2025, up from 134 in 2024, reflecting an increase of around 19%.
The 2025–26 AAR further stated that, to “prevent any individual/persons acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the State and public order and public safety,” a total of 18 persons were booked under the National Security Act, 1980. The figure remained the same as in 2024.
Contextual trends from previous years
Placed in context with previous years, based on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and AAR 2025-26 reports, the 2025 figures indicate a reversal of the decline recorded in 2024.
As per NCRB data, cases registered under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC) and SLL increased from 1,478 in 2021 to 1,592 in 2022, and further to 1,899 in 2023.
This was followed by a sharp decline of 47.2% to 1,050 cases in 2024, as per the Home Department AAR 2024–25.
The increase in extortion cases in 2025 also marks a reversal of a declining trend since 2021, when 159 cases were recorded under “Extortion and Blackmailing.” This declined to 100 in 2022, 89 in 2023, and 60 in 2024, before rising again to 78 in 2025.
Drug seizure: A mixed but concerning picture
The drug situation presents a mixed but concerning picture. While cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 declined from 194 in 2024 to 158 in 2025 (around 18% decrease), seizures indicated increased trafficking of high-value and synthetic substances.
Synthetic drug seizures increased from approximately 80,496 units in 2024 to 104,470 units in 2025, reflecting a rise of around 30%.
Seizures of brown sugar/heroin rose sharply from about 1.8 kg to 10 kg, while ganja seizures increased from approximately 532 kg to 576 kg.
However, opium seizures declined significantly, from over 1,000 kg in 2024 to around 20 kg in 2025, while seizures of “heroin/shanflower” remained relatively stable at around 13 kg.
The total value of drugs seized in 2025 was estimated at over ₹52 crore, the report stated.
Meanwhile, the 2025–26 AAR stated that between January and October 2025, personnel of the Narcotic Police Station seized approximately 5.9 kg of heroin, 9.1 kg of brown sugar, 400 kg of ganja, 15 bottles of cough syrup, and 505 tablets of assorted drugs.
During the same period, 36 persons were arrested, with 13 cases registered at the Narcotic Police Station, PHQ, and four cases transferred to other police stations.
The report, however, did not specify whether these seizures were included in the overall data.
Further, 18 accused were also booked under the PITNDPS Act, 1988 in 2025 with the objective of preventing curb illicit drug trafficking and address threats to public health and welfare, the 2025 report informed.
Nagaland Police: At a Glance
The Nagaland Police, under Home Department, is headed by the Director General of Police (DGP), assisted by two Additional Directors General of Police designated as ADGP (Law & Order) and ADGP (Administration) for the smooth functioning of police administration.
The ADGP (Law & Order) oversees law and order in the State, while the ADGP (Administration) handles general administrative functions. Below the ADGP rank, there are eight Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) and 14 Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) with assigned responsibilities.
Across the State’s 15 districts, policing is carried out through 14 District Executive Forces (DEFs) headed by Superintendents of Police, and one Commissionerate in Dimapur headed by a Commissioner of Police in the rank of DIG.
The Nagaland Police has a total of 15 battalions, each headed by a Commandant, including eight Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) battalions and seven India Reserve (IR) battalions, including a Mahila IR battalion.
The force also operates two training institutes, namely the Nagaland Police Training School, headed by a Principal, and the Nagaland Armed Training Centre, headed by a Commandant.
In addition, there are eight support units: Intelligence Unit (INT), Police Engineering Project (PEP), Nagaland Police Tele-Communication Organisation (NPTO), Police Central Workshop (PCW), Police Referral Hospital (PRH), Mini Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Signal Training School, and the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism School (CIAT).
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