A drug seizure may make headlines. An arrest may disrupt a trafficking operation. But the real test of a police investigation comes much later, inside a courtroom, when evidence must stand up to legal scrutiny and an accused is convicted.
In East Champaran, Bihar, this approach has shaped the police campaign against drug trafficking over the past two years. Under the leadership of Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat, the district police have moved beyond arrests and seizures to focus on building strong cases that can lead to convictions.
Between September 16, 2024, and September 10, 2026, courts convicted 100 accused in narcotics-related cases. Of these, 64 received sentences of seven years or more. The maximum sentence in the cases reached 18 years of imprisonment. Around 500 other accused remain under trial.
Swarn Prabhat is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 2017 batch from the Bihar cadre. His approach in East Champaran has placed investigation, evidence collection, prosecution and regular monitoring at the centre of the fight against drugs.
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Prabhat explained that the objective is not simply to arrest people involved in the drug trade. The cases must also be strong enough to secure convictions in court.
“Our focus is not limited to arrests and seizures. We want to ensure that investigations are conducted properly, evidence is collected as per procedure, and cases are followed through in court so that those involved in drug trafficking are punished.”
WHEN ARRESTS ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING
East Champaran’s location makes the challenge particularly complex. The district shares an international border with Nepal, which police identify as an important transit route for narcotics. Trafficking networks can operate across geographical boundaries, making intelligence sharing and coordination essential.
For the police, catching a person carrying drugs is only one part of the task. Investigators must establish the facts of the case, document the seizure, collect supporting evidence and complete the investigation within the required legal framework.
Read Also: When Bureaucrats Become the Bottleneck: Cabinet Secretary’s 12 Types Expose Office Woes
Any weakness in these steps can affect the prosecution later. A recovery may appear significant at the time of arrest, but the case must still be supported by reliable evidence and proper documentation.
The district police therefore placed greater emphasis on the quality of investigations. The aim was to ensure that cases did not lose strength between the initial seizure and the final court proceedings.
The results are reflected in the conviction figures. One hundred accused have been convicted in two years, while 64 received sentences of at least seven years. These figures indicate the importance of carrying a case beyond the police station and into the courtroom.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A CASE STRONG
In narcotics cases, the investigation process can be as important as the quantity of drugs seized. The police have focused on following standard operating procedures at every stage, from the recovery of narcotics to the filing of the chargesheet.
Videography of seizures is one of the measures being emphasised. Proper documentation helps establish how the recovery took place and creates a record that can be examined during the trial.
Investigators must also ensure that mandatory notices and other legal requirements are followed. Forensic Science Laboratory reports need to arrive on time, while chargesheets must be filed within the applicable legal deadlines.
The police have also assigned responsibility for NDPS cases to designated Sub-Inspectors. This helps establish accountability and gives officers a clearer responsibility for the investigation.
The larger objective is to reduce avoidable procedural lapses. A case must be prepared carefully from the beginning rather than strengthened only when the trial approaches.
Prabhat’s approach places particular importance on discipline during the investigation. Each stage must be completed with the expectation that the evidence and the actions of the investigating officer may later be examined in court.
“In NDPS cases, every procedural step matters. The seizure must be properly documented, the evidence must be handled carefully, forensic reports must be obtained on time, and the chargesheet must be filed within the prescribed period. A strong investigation gives the prosecution a stronger foundation.”
BUILDING A STRONGER PROSECUTION
A sound investigation is only one side of the process. The prosecution must also present the evidence effectively and ensure that cases move forward without unnecessary delays.
To address this, the East Champaran police have worked on strengthening their prosecution cell. The focus includes improving manpower and infrastructure, recognising good performance and maintaining regular communication between investigating officers and prosecutors.
The district also holds review meetings with NDPS prosecutors twice a month. These meetings provide an opportunity to examine pending cases, discuss problems affecting trials and identify the steps required to move proceedings forward.
Witness attendance is another important part of this effort. Even a well-investigated case can face difficulties if witnesses do not appear when required. Regular monitoring of trials and timely coordination with witnesses can help prevent avoidable delays.
The police have also introduced appreciation letters for prosecutors who perform well. The intention is to recognise effective work and encourage greater coordination between the police and the prosecution.
This system connects the different stages of a criminal case. Investigators are responsible for collecting and documenting evidence. Forensic reports support the scientific examination of the seized material. Prosecutors present the case in court, while regular reviews help identify obstacles before they become bigger problems.
The conviction figures suggest that this coordinated approach has contributed to taking narcotics cases to their legal conclusion. However, the final outcome in every case depends on the evidence presented and the court’s assessment of it.
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL ACROSS THE NEPAL BORDER
The challenge does not end with improving individual cases. Police must also understand how narcotics reach the district and identify the people operating behind the trade.
East Champaran’s proximity to Nepal makes intelligence gathering particularly important. The police have focused on using technology to collect information, study patterns and identify possible trafficking routes. Local intelligence sources also form part of this effort.
Posting capable officers as station house officers in border areas is another measure. Officers stationed in these locations can play an important role in identifying suspicious movement and developing information about trafficking activities.
Coordination with other agencies is equally important. Regular meetings under the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism bring together the police, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other intelligence agencies.
The district also holds regular meetings with counterparts in Nepal under the Border District Coordination Committee (BDCC) mechanism. These interactions help address operational requirements and improve coordination across the international border.
Such cooperation matters because trafficking networks do not necessarily operate within the limits of one police station or district. Information gathered in one location may help investigators identify a larger network operating elsewhere.
The objective is to move beyond the person caught transporting a consignment and establish the wider links behind the operation. Identifying the supply chain and acting on intelligence can help police disrupt trafficking before drugs reach their intended destinations.
MAJOR SEIZURES, BUT A LARGER CHALLENGE REMAINS
The campaign has also produced significant seizures. According to police data reported in September 2026, East Champaran recorded 531 drug-related cases and 669 arrests during the two-year period. The estimated value of the seized narcotics was approximately ₹52.66 crore.
The seizures included 8,967.024 kg of ganja, 117.7094 kg of charas, 52.516 kg of opium, 22.379 kg of smack and 2.6835 kg of brown sugar. Police also reported recovering hashish and heroin.
In June 2026, Motihari police, working with the Special Task Force (STF), seized 10.54 kg of opium, 4 kg of ganja and 1.1 kg of doda. Seven people were arrested following leads that police said emerged during interrogation.
Some cases have resulted in particularly long prison sentences. Ussman Sheikh received 18 years’ imprisonment in a Banjariya police station case involving 26.434 kg of charas. Sagar Kumar Pandey received 15 years in a case involving 18.4 kg of charas. Janglal Yadav was also sentenced to 15 years in a Palanwa police station case involving 84 kg of ganja.
These cases illustrate the scale of some of the consignments handled by the police and the serious consequences that can follow when the evidence supports a conviction.
Yet the challenge is far from over. Around 500 accused in narcotics cases remain under trial. Their cases will require continued investigation where necessary, effective prosecution and timely court proceedings.
A MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG
Alongside enforcement, Prabhat has appealed to young people not to become involved in drug trafficking. The lure of quick money can draw people into illegal networks, but the consequences can affect their freedom, future and families.
The police have stressed that drug trafficking is a serious offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which provides for stringent punishments depending on the offence and the circumstances of the case.
“Young people should not fall into the trap of drug trafficking for the sake of quick money. The short-term financial gain is not worth the risk of imprisonment and a ruined future. We want them to stay away from this illegal trade and make better choices for themselves and their families.”
The appeal also reflects a wider concern. Drug trafficking cannot be addressed through police action alone. Public awareness, community cooperation and timely information can help authorities identify suspicious activities and prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into the trade.
For East Champaran police, the next task is to maintain the momentum. The 100 convictions mark an important milestone, but the hundreds of cases still under trial show how much work remains.
The larger lesson from the district’s campaign is that enforcement does not end when an accused is arrested or a consignment is seized. It requires a chain of work that begins with intelligence, continues through a careful investigation and ends with the presentation of evidence before a court.
In the fight against narcotics, the real measure of success lies not only in what the police recover, but also in how effectively they dismantle trafficking networks and build cases that stand up in court.
