The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has warned of increased use of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in Kerala, amid concerns over an alleged steady inflow of synthetic drugs to the State.
Kerala has found itself to be a key market of LSD, a hallucinogenic drug known for its powerful psychological effects, going by the NCB’s annual report for 2024 released last month.
As per the report, as many as 924 LSD blots were seized by different drug law enforcement agencies in Kerala in 2024. The State comes fourth in terms of the volume of the seizures after Tamil Nadu (3,905), Uttarakhand (2,058) and Goa (1,825).
“The concentration in coastal and tourist-heavy areas like Goa and Kerala points to its increased recreational use among local people and tourists,” the report states. The report doesn’t cite any particular reason behind the perceived high demand for the substance in the States topping the list. However, its appeal among the youth is considered to be a key factor promoting the use of the drug item.
“LSD is a popular drug of choice among youth across the State. Its hallucinogenic properties make it popular among youth. Addicts claim that it opens up their mind. It basically affects the senses and that makes it kind of mind altering,” an NCB source said.
Notably, the Cochin zonal unit of the NCB had in January 2024 seized 326 suspected LSD blots, weighing 7.59 gm, from seven people in Ernakulam.
According to the NCB data, 4,482 kg of ganja and 24.27 kg of MDMA were seized from Kerala in 2024. A total of 27,701 cases had been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and 29,755 people arrested in the year.
The report mentions that coastal routes, including Mumbai, Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, are increasingly being exploited for smuggling of synthetic drugs and precursors or chemicals used to make illicit drugs.
Published – October 19, 2025 06:48 pm IST
