Six Punjab Districts Classified as ‘Ultrasensitive’ Drug Zones by Centre: Full List and What It Means
Kamal Singh|Newsdesk7
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Chandigarh, September 17, 2026: The Centre has classified six districts of Punjab as “ultrasensitive” drug zones as part of its nationwide push to combat narcotics trafficking under the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign.
Chandigarh, September 17, 2026: The Centre has classified six districts of Punjab as “ultrasensitive” drug zones as part of its nationwide push to combat narcotics trafficking under the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign.
The classification was disclosed by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal director Amanjit Singh and Union Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Rak Kumar during a press briefing in Chandigarh. Across India, the Centre has identified 73 districts as “ultrasensitive” and 274 as “sensitive” under the latest assessment.
Which Six Punjab Districts Are on the List?
The six Punjab districts classified as ultrasensitive are:
Five of these districts — Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka — are located along Punjab’s international border with Pakistan. Ludhiana, which is away from the border, has been identified as an ultrasensitive drug hotspot in the state's interior.
Why Has Punjab Received Special Attention?
The Centre's classification comes amid a wider national strategy to disrupt drug trafficking networks, including cross-border supply routes.
According to the Union government's recently unveiled Drug Control Vision Document 2026–2029, India is pursuing a three-year roadmap aimed at making the country drug-free by 2029. The strategy focuses on enforcement, control of precursor and synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction, and stronger coordination between agencies.
Special De-Addiction Strategies Planned
The NCB said that special de-addiction strategies have been prepared for districts designated as ultrasensitive.
The broader approach combines action against drug supply with measures targeting addiction and rehabilitation, rather than relying solely on arrests and seizures.
Anti-Drone Technology Along Borders
Cross-border drug trafficking through drones remains a particular concern for Punjab.
The NCB said anti-drone technology is planned along the International Border to strengthen surveillance and prevent narcotics from being transported across the border through unmanned aerial systems.
Centre Plans Action Against Overseas Fugitives
Officials also said that around 100 fugitives involved in alleged narco-terrorism have been identified, with efforts under way to bring them back to India.
The broader national roadmap also includes international cooperation and efforts by agencies such as the CBI, Ministry of External Affairs and Interpol to pursue fugitives and disrupt drug networks operating across borders.
Four Pillars of the Drug-Free India Roadmap
The Centre's 2026–2029 strategy rests on four broad pillars:
Precursor & synthetic drug control: Targeting chemicals, laboratories and emerging synthetic-drug networks.
Demand & harm reduction: Increasing prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and other measures aimed at reducing drug dependence.
Capacity building & coordination: Improving cooperation among central agencies, state governments and other institutions.
The operational approach has been described around “detect, disrupt and destroy” — tracing the source and network, interrupting trafficking and finances, and dismantling laboratories and organised networks.
Political Reaction in Punjab
The announcement comes just ahead of the BJP's planned anti-drug yatras in Punjab, scheduled to begin from Pathankot on September 18.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has criticised the planned yatras, describing them as politically motivated, while the BJP has highlighted the drug issue as a major concern ahead of the Punjab Assembly election due next year. These are competing political characterisations; the classification of the six districts itself was presented by central officials as part of the national narcotics-control exercise.
What the Classification Means for Punjab
For the six designated districts, the classification is expected to mean greater surveillance, targeted enforcement, stronger coordination among agencies and increased focus on de-addiction and rehabilitation.
For border districts such as Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka, cross-border trafficking and drone-based smuggling are key areas of concern, while Ludhiana's inclusion shows that the Centre's focus extends beyond the border belt to major urban and industrial areas.
The Centre's larger objective is to implement the 2026–2029 Drug Control roadmap in mission mode, with measurable outcomes and periodic reviews aimed at achieving its 2029 drug-free India target.
