Punjab continues to face significant crime challenges during 2024-2025, with several concerning trends emerging across different categories. The state has become a focal point for law enforcement efforts, particularly in combating drug trafficking, which remains the most severe criminal challenge facing the region. Punjab has the highest drug trafficking rate in India, making it a critical area for both state and national authorities to address. The persistence of organised crime, combined with new patterns of youth involvement in criminal activities, has created a complex security landscape that requires multifaceted responses from law enforcement agencies.
Drug trafficking remains Punjab’s most pressing criminal concern, with the state ranking as the close second behind Delhi in drug trafficking cases nationally in 2024. According to the Narcotics Control Bureau data for 2024, Punjab saw 163 cases of drug trafficking by drones during the year, which included 187 kg of heroin. This represents a significant escalation in cross-border smuggling tactics, particularly along the Pakistan border, where criminal networks have adapted sophisticated methods to evade detection. Despite these challenges, there has been some progress in enforcement, as cases have declined from 259 in 2020 to 173 in 2024, suggesting that intensified law enforcement efforts are having some impact on reducing the overall volume of trafficking incidents.
Law enforcement agencies have responded aggressively to the drug crisis with targeted operations at multiple levels of the supply chain. Punjab Police targeted drug sellers at the grassroots level in villages and urban areas, leading to 7,686 NDPS-related FIRs and 10,524 arrests in 2024. Beyond street-level dealers, authorities have focused on dismantling larger operations, resulting in the arrest of 153 major drug traffickers during the year. These enforcement actions demonstrate a comprehensive approach that addresses both the retail distribution networks in communities and the higher-level traffickers who coordinate large-scale smuggling operations. However, the continued use of drone technology and other innovative smuggling methods indicates that criminal organisations remain adaptive and resilient in the face of increased law enforcement pressure.
A particularly alarming trend has emerged regarding youth criminality in Punjab during this period. Recent incidents in Punjab reveal an alarming rise in serious crimes committed by teenagers and young adults aged 16-22, who are often misguided and lured into criminal activities such as murders, snatching, and even terrorism. This development poses new challenges for law enforcement as young people become increasingly involved in serious organized crime, often recruited by established criminal gangs who exploit their vulnerability and lack of opportunities. The involvement of youth in such serious offenses represents not just a law enforcement challenge but also a broader social issue that requires intervention in education, employment, and community support systems to prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into criminal networks.
Punjab continues to struggle with organized criminal gangs that maintain connections both within India and internationally. The state has witnessed the involvement of Canada-based gangsters in various criminal activities, including murder contracts and drug trafficking operations, highlighting the transnational nature of organized crime networks operating in the region. Cross-border smuggling networks remain highly active, utilizing sophisticated methods including drone technology, encrypted communications, and corruption of officials at border checkpoints to facilitate their operations. These organized crime groups have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, continuously evolving their tactics to circumvent law enforcement efforts and maintain their criminal enterprises across international boundaries.
While specific comprehensive crime statistics for 2024-2025 are still being compiled by authorities, national data provides important context for understanding Punjab’s position relative to other Indian states. India’s crime rate in 2025 was 445.9 per 100,000 people, with theft being the most common crime, followed by robbery and assault. Punjab’s position relative to other states shows it performing better than many larger states in overall crime rates, though drug-related offenses remain disproportionately high compared to the national average. This disparity underscores the unique challenges facing Punjab, where the state’s geographical location along the international border and historical patterns of drug abuse have created conditions particularly conducive to narcotics trafficking.
The Punjab Police has maintained active operations against criminal networks throughout 2024-2025, implementing various measures to combat organized crime and improve public safety. Authorities have established helplines for reporting organized crime and implemented modern complaint management systems to better coordinate responses to criminal activities. These institutional improvements aim to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement operations and make it easier for citizens to report criminal activity without fear of reprisal. Additionally, intelligence-sharing mechanisms have been strengthened both within the state and with neighboring jurisdictions to better track and apprehend criminals who operate across state lines.
Despite these enforcement efforts and some measurable successes in reducing certain categories of crime, Punjab’s criminal landscape remains challenging. The persistence of youth involvement in serious crimes and the continuous evolution of smuggling techniques indicate that criminal networks are adapting faster than enforcement agencies can respond in some areas. The use of technology by criminals, particularly drones for drug smuggling, represents a significant challenge that requires ongoing investment in detection capabilities and counter-measures. Furthermore, the social and economic factors that make young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal organizations require long-term policy interventions beyond traditional law enforcement approaches.
During 2024-2025, Punjab’s crime landscape is characterized primarily by persistent drug trafficking challenges that show both signs of improvement and concerning adaptations by criminal networks. The emerging concern about youth criminality adds another dimension to the state’s security challenges, requiring not just policing but also social intervention strategies. The ongoing presence of organized criminal gangs with international connections demonstrates the complexity of the threat environment, where local law enforcement must contend with sophisticated, well-resourced criminal organizations operating across borders. While authorities have achieved notable success in making numerous arrests and disrupting some trafficking operations, the fundamental challenges remain deeply entrenched, requiring sustained and comprehensive efforts combining enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation, and community engagement to achieve lasting improvements in public safety and security across the state.