diff --git a/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.spec.ts b/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..66f3b58834
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2026 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { ElementRef } from '@angular/core';
+import { DropZoneDirective } from './drop-zone.directive';
+
+describe('DropZoneDirective', () => {
+    let directive: DropZoneDirective;
+    let element: HTMLElement;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        element = document.createElement('div');
+
+        TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+            providers: [{ provide: ElementRef, useValue: new ElementRef(element) }]
+        });
+
+        directive = TestBed.runInInjectionContext(() => new DropZoneDirective());
+        directive.dropTarget = 'cell';
+        directive.ngOnInit();
+    });
+
+    it('should dispatch a namespaced custom event on dragenter while attached', () => {
+        const dispatched: string[] = [];
+        element.addEventListener('cell-dragenter', () => dispatched.push('cell-dragenter'));
+
+        element.dispatchEvent(new DragEvent('dragenter'));
+
+        expect(dispatched).toContain('cell-dragenter');
+    });
+
+    it('should not handle drag events after the directive is destroyed', () => {
+        const dispatched: string[] = [];
+        element.addEventListener('cell-dragenter', () => dispatched.push('cell-dragenter'));
+        element.addEventListener('cell-dragover', () => dispatched.push('cell-dragover'));
+        element.addEventListener('cell-drop', () => dispatched.push('cell-drop'));
+
+        directive.ngOnDestroy();
+
+        element.dispatchEvent(new DragEvent('dragenter'));
+        element.dispatchEvent(new DragEvent('dragover'));
+        element.dispatchEvent(new DragEvent('drop'));
+
+        expect(dispatched).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it('should remove listeners using the same references that were added', () => {
+        const addSpy = spyOn(element, 'addEventListener').and.callThrough();
+        const removeSpy = spyOn(element, 'removeEventListener').and.callThrough();
+
+        directive.ngOnInit();
+        directive.ngOnDestroy();
+
+        const addedByEvent = new Map<string, EventListenerOrEventListenerObject>();
+        addSpy.calls.allArgs().forEach(([evt, fn]) => addedByEvent.set(evt as string, fn as EventListenerOrEventListenerObject));
+
+        removeSpy.calls.allArgs().forEach(([evt, fn]) => {
+            expect(fn).toBe(addedByEvent.get(evt as string));
+        });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.ts b/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.ts
index 4d629db4ff..4da7c61e56 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.ts
+++ b/lib/core/src/lib/datatable/directives/drop-zone.directive.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ export class DropZoneDirective implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     @Input()
     dropColumn: DataColumn;
 
+    private readonly onDragEnterHandler = this.onDragEnter.bind(this);
+    private readonly onDragOverHandler = this.onDragOver.bind(this);
+    private readonly onDropHandler = this.onDrop.bind(this);
+
     constructor() {
         const elementRef = inject(ElementRef);
 
@@ -44,16 +48,16 @@ export class DropZoneDirective implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
 
     ngOnInit() {
         this.ngZone.runOutsideAngular(() => {
-            this.element.addEventListener('dragenter', this.onDragEnter.bind(this));
-            this.element.addEventListener('dragover', this.onDragOver.bind(this));
-            this.element.addEventListener('drop', this.onDrop.bind(this));
+            this.element.addEventListener('dragenter', this.onDragEnterHandler);
+            this.element.addEventListener('dragover', this.onDragOverHandler);
+            this.element.addEventListener('drop', this.onDropHandler);
         });
     }
 
     ngOnDestroy() {
-        this.element.removeEventListener('dragenter', this.onDragEnter);
-        this.element.removeEventListener('dragover', this.onDragOver);
-        this.element.removeEventListener('drop', this.onDrop);
+        this.element.removeEventListener('dragenter', this.onDragEnterHandler);
+        this.element.removeEventListener('dragover', this.onDragOverHandler);
+        this.element.removeEventListener('drop', this.onDropHandler);
     }
 
     onDragEnter(event: DragEvent) {