Mangaluru Tops State in Narcotic Drugs Cases, Surpassing Bengaluru

Mangaluru, known as an educational hub, has recorded nearly 30 percent of all cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Karnataka from the beginning of the year until July 10. Of the 1,791 cases registered statewide, 521 originated from Mangaluru, surpassing Bengaluru, which recorded 231 cases during the same period.

According to data shared by Home Minister G Parameshwara in response to a question by MLC Ivan D’Souza during a recent legislative session, Karnataka has seen nearly 15,000 NDPS cases registered in the past two-and-a-half years. In 2022, 6,406 cases were registered, with Bengaluru accounting for 62 percent (4,027) of them, followed by Mangaluru (398), Chikkamagaluru (262), and Udupi district (262).

Despite the high number of cases, over 60 percent of the 3,881 cases registered in 2022 remain pending trial. The conviction rate was just over 36 percent, with convictions in 2,365 cases, while 83 cases ended in acquittal, and 14 were deemed false.

In 2023, Bengaluru again led with 3,443 cases, accounting for more than 50 percent of the state’s 6,764 cases. Mangaluru followed with 713 cases. However, the conviction rate dropped to 33.7 percent, with 4,187 cases still pending.

As of this year, the conviction rate has further declined to just above 10 percent. Of the 1,791 cases registered, 884 are pending trial, and 717 cases remain under investigation.

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