Cannabis remains most seized drug by police
Date published:
New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Police Service of Northern Ireland present police recorded drug seizures and arrests in Northern Ireland for the 12 months ending 31 December 2025.
Key findings
- There were 7,388 drug seizure incidents in the 12 months to December 2025, an increase of 125 (1.7 per cent) compared with the previous 12 months.
- Cannabis (Class B) was the most commonly seized drug, followed by cocaine (Class A) and pregabalin (Class C).
- There was an increase in the number of Class A and Class B seizure incidents and a fall in the number of Class C seizure incidents.
- Drug-related arrests totalled 3,139, a decrease of 165 (5.0 per cent) compared with the previous 12 months.
- Belfast City policing district accounted for three in ten of all drug seizure incidents and two fifths of all drug-related arrests recorded in Northern Ireland.
- The number of drug seizure incidents recorded by police has shown a mainly upwards trend between 2006/07 and 2022/23, with a declining trend from 2023/24 onwards.
About this publication
This quarterly bulletin presents provisional statistics on drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 that have been seized, recovered or found by police in Northern Ireland. It also includes information on seizures of substances within the scope of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, as well as drug-related arrest figures. Supplementary data tables providing additional breakdowns by drug type, format and policing district are available alongside the bulletin.
Further information
Read the full report, view data tables and background information: Drug Seizure Statistics