New data from Karnataka reveals a surprising shift in the drug trade landscape. Arrests of out-of-State drug peddlers in 2024 were 235 across the State, with 135 in Bengaluru. This number dropped marginally in 2025 to 226 statewide and 125 in Bengaluru. However, narcotic cases rose sharply from 4,158 in 2024 to 5,834 in 2025, with Bengaluru's cases more than doubling from 520 to 1,057. Home Minister G. Parameshwara shared this data in the Karnataka State Legislature. It showed that out-of-State peddlers made up around 25% of arrests in Bengaluru in 2024, falling to less than 12% in 2025. A senior anti-narcotics official said, "Though most of the ganja coming into the city is from the Telangana and Odisha border, most of the peddlers and consumers are locals, barring a small section of migrant labourers. Hydroganja is coming from Thailand through mules and the entire operation is dominated by locals. It is again the locals who order narcotics online through the dark web and get it delivered through clandestine couriers." The official noted that foreign nationals and out-of-State persons mostly deal with synthetic drugs and their production in hidden labs. "MDMA, ecstasy, and LSD are often supplied to Bengaluru from outside the State. Many African nationals are also involved in these cases." Following crackdowns on synthetic drug labs around Delhi, these operations appear to have shifted to Karnataka and other regions. The State police have been urged to focus more on busting such labs instead of only targeting lower-level users and peddlers. In the past year, Maharashtra police and the Narcotics Control Bureau busted clandestine labs in Mysuru and Bengaluru, run by people from North India. Yet, Karnataka police have not arrested any synthetic drug producers in two years, highlighting a gap in enforcement strategy. This data and the pattern of arrests suggest Karnataka needs a fresh approach to fight drug crimes effectively.