860 smugglers on narcotics bureau's 'live list'

In an offensive against the narcotics trade, the Haryana Police have prepared a “live, dynamic list” of 860 high-profile drug smugglers, each with three or more NDPS cases in the past decade. It has been circulated to all field units across the state—accompanied by strict orders for targeted enforcement.

“The time for general strategies is over,” said DGP OP Singh, head of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB). “We have identified the core of the problem—repeat offenders who thrive on bail, trial delays, and inconsistent follow-up. This live list is a signal: if you’re on it, the state is watching.”

Of the 860 identified traffickers, 730 are currently out of jail, and 381 are flagged as ‘active’. An additional 130 are behind bars, and 468 have been marked 'inactive'. Eleven offenders have died over the past 10 years.

“The live list, which is being updated by the police headquarters, includes district-wise tracking of each smuggler’s legal status, activity level, and action history. Field officers have been ordered to treat it as an operational tool, not a static document,” he said.

Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Yamunanagar top the list in terms of smuggler concentration, with Sirsa accounting for 117 names. “These districts have long been vulnerable corridors,” said a senior HSNCB official. “Now, they are ground zero for targeted enforcement.”

The orders to field units are for preventive detention under PIT-NDPS for habitual traffickers, comprehensive financial investigations into illegally acquired property and confiscation proposals to be submitted to the competent authority in New Delhi. Also, history sheets to be opened or updated for all listed individuals and surveillance will be carried out on jail visitors, who are now classified as persons of interest.

“To further streamline enforcement, all districts have been mandated to register on the e-Tribunal Portal—a centralised digital platform for filing financial investigation and conviction reports. This step ensures legal timelines are met under the NDPS Act and builds digital traceability for every confiscation case,” said Singh.

The state’s Cyber Forensics Lab has been directed to provide priority support to investigating officers, particularly in decoding mobile data, financial apps, and encrypted digital trails. “This is not about chasing foot soldiers,” he clarified.