Major Drug Bust in Bengaluru: Police Nab 24 Peddlers, Confiscate ₹2.08 Crore Worth of Narcotics
In a significant blow to the narcotics trade in India's tech capital, the Bengaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested 24 drug peddlers and seized banned substances valued at an estimated ₹2.08 crore. The coordinated operation, part of an intensified enforcement drive against drugs, was conducted across multiple locations in the city.
Coordinated Raids Across Key Police Station Limits
The joint operation was executed by the CCB's Narcotics Control Wing and Organised Crime Wing based on specific intelligence inputs. Police officials confirmed that the accused were operating within the jurisdictional limits of several police stations, including:
- Kumaraswamy Layout
- Hebbal
- J C Nagar
- Basavanagudi
- Govindarajanagar
- Chamarajpet
Cases have been registered under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with multiple raids conducted at identified locations on different dates.
Substantial Narcotics Haul Seized by Authorities
During the meticulously planned raids, law enforcement officers confiscated a substantial quantity of illegal substances. The seized contraband includes:
- 1 kg 23 grams of hashish
- 76 kg of ganja
- 11 kg 600 grams of charas
- 121 grams of MDMA
The total value of these narcotics has been officially estimated at ₹2.08 crore, marking one of the significant drug busts in the city recently.
Targeting Vulnerable Demographics and Supply Networks
Investigations have revealed disturbing details about the operation's methodology. The accused, some of whom hail from outside Karnataka, allegedly procured narcotics from unidentified suppliers and sold them locally. Their primary targets included college students and IT and Bio Technology (BT) employees, exploiting these demographics for quick profits.
Police have launched a comprehensive manhunt to trace the main suppliers and are actively working to dismantle the larger network behind this illegal trade. Seemant Kumar Singh, City Police Commissioner, emphasized the department's commitment, stating, "Making Bengaluru drug-free is our priority. In that direction, we have been carrying out sustained anti-drug campaigns. This is a continuous effort, with the CCB, law and order police, and all units working in close coordination."
Sustained Citywide Crackdown Yields Impressive Results
These arrests occur amid a sustained, citywide crackdown on drug trafficking and consumption. According to police data from January 1 to February 7, enforcement teams conducted extensive checks covering:
- 3,227 rowdies
- 572 NDPS accused
- 297 chemical factories
- 1,503 godowns
- 2,164 medical shops
- 2,140 pan shops
- 1,251 petty shops located near schools and colleges
Additionally, travel agencies, parcel services, and commercial establishments were inspected to prevent misuse for narcotics storage or transport.
Comprehensive Enforcement Statistics Revealed
The intensive drive has yielded substantial results:
- 109 cases registered against drug peddlers, resulting in 179 arrests
- 839 cases against consumers, with 1,038 people taken into custody
- Seizure of 278.35 kg of ganja, 8.918 kg of hydro ganja, 2.493 kg of synthetic drugs, plus 509 tablets and 38 strips of banned substances
The total value of narcotics seized during this period is estimated at a staggering ₹8.19 crore. This follows another operation on January 28, where city police arrested 10 drug peddlers in a separate crackdown.
Police officers have reiterated their zero-tolerance approach towards drug-related offences and confirmed that intelligence-led operations will continue unabated to cleanse the city of narcotics networks.
