Delhi Police make big gains in fight against drug trafficking

The Delhi Police have gone on the offensive against the growing menace of drug trafficking in the national capital, launching a series of operations this year that have yielded substantial results.

As of June 15, a total of 1,127 cases had been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 1,439 drug traffickers. This marks a notable increase in enforcement compared to previous years during the same time period. Drug-related seizures have also surged, with 2024 accounting for over a 35% rise in NDPS-related cases compared to 2023.

Total assets seized so far in 2025 have amounted to approximately Rs 7.76 crore, with an additional Rs 19.03 crore in assets in the final stages of forfeiture. Action has also been initiated against 28 drug traffickers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1989, while proceedings are ongoing against 32 others.

Marijuana remains the most frequently seized narcotic by volume, with 2,695 kg confiscated so far in 2025, compared to 4,921.8 kg in the whole of 2024. Opium smuggling has also surged, with 212 kg seized in the first five months of 2025—more than double the 104.88 kg seized throughout 2024. Cocaine seizures have risen dramatically: 1,296.6 kg was recovered in 2024 compared to 15.31 kg in 2023, though only 0.74 kg has been seized up to May 2025.

Additionally, the police confiscated 300,000 illegally manufactured or misused pharmaceutical tablets, 34,616 capsules, and 173 bottles of prescription cough syrup in 2025. In 2024, seizures included 828,000 tablets and 3,561 injections.

How Delhi fared in 2024

In 2024, the Delhi Police registered 1,789 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 2,290 individuals—a significant increase over previous years. For comparison, there were 325 cases and 1,736 arrests in 2023, 1,179 cases and 1,499 arrests in 2022, and 566 cases with 857 arrests in 2021.

According to officials, 2024 set a record for enforcement, spurred by stricter measures to counter expanding drug smuggling networks. “With the rising use of synthetic and prescription drugs, enforcement agencies are refining strategies to target manufacturing and supply chains more effectively, aiming to dismantle narcotics trafficking networks in the national capital. Delhi Police continues to collaborate with central agencies to tackle the increasing complexity of the drug trade,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava.

The force also seized and destroyed approximately 1,537.1 kg of illicit drugs, including 961.9 kg of ganja, 542.9 kg of cocaine, 6 kg of heroin, 3 kg of charas, 5.4 kg of opium, and 18 kg of alprazolam powder. An additional 92 kg of narcotics were destroyed by the Rohini and New Delhi districts, including 87.5 kg of ganja, 2 kg of heroin, and 2.6 kg of charas, alongside various tablets and injections. In total, 1,629.4 kg of drugs—estimated to be worth Rs 3,274.5 crore in the international market—were destroyed.

Since December 2022, Delhi Police have destroyed more than 42,000 kg of substances valued at over Rs 10,000 crore, all seized under the NDPS Act. “Drug destruction events underscore Delhi Police’s zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics. All operations were conducted in strict compliance with environmental regulations at designated incineration facilities,” Srivastava added.

Focus on prevention: Campaigns and operations

A key highlight of the police’s anti-narcotics drive was the Nasha Mukt Bharat Pakhwada, a two-week initiative held from June 12 to 26, aimed at promoting a drug-free India.

During this period, the police launched Operation Kavach-8.0 on June 18 and 19, conducting coordinated raids at 1,040 locations across all 15 police districts in Delhi. These raids led to the arrest of numerous drug traffickers, illegal liquor vendors, arms smugglers, and gamblers. In addition, 5,105 individuals were placed under preventive detention.

Drug seizures in 2025: Key cases

On June 28, police in Dwarka district received a tip-off about the sale of Buprenorphine tablets by an accused identified as Manoj, alias Cobra, aged 24. Officers located him at a park near Dwarka Sector 3 around 6:00 PM. Upon searching him, they recovered a batch of banned pharmaceutical medicines, including nine tablets of Buprenorphine and Sublingual VERNOR N, along with eight 10 ml injections of Pheniramine Maleate (Avil).

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Earlier, on June 19, police received information about a suspected drug peddler in the Vijay Vihar area. A raid was conducted at Chhat Ghat Park, where a suspect was detained. A search revealed 20.80 grams of MD Amphetamine in his possession. The individual was identified as Emeka Marvelous, a 31-year-old Nigerian national residing in Malviya Nagar, Delhi.

Upon document verification, it was found that his visa had expired over a year ago, making his stay in India illegal. A case was registered under FIR No. 396/25 under sections 21, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act, and section 14 of the Foreigners Act, at PS Vijay Vihar. Police stated that the accused confessed to being involved in drug trafficking for the past four years.

Similarly, on June 13, two constables on routine evening patrol spotted two suspicious individuals near Khalsa School, Guru Gobind Singh Marg. As police approached, the suspects attempted to hide a black bag and a polythene packet. A search revealed a white crystalline substance suspected to be narcotics.

The suspects were identified as Kailash, aged 33, a resident of Greater Kailash, Delhi, and Phoolchand, alias Chhotu, aged 29, a resident of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. From Kailash, police recovered a transparent zip-lock pouch containing 106.5 grams of suspected Amphetamine. From Phoolchand, they seized a polythene packet with 35.5 grams of the same substance—totalling 142 grams, which qualifies as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act.

The suspected drugs, a black rexine bag used for concealment, and a motorcycle used to transport the contraband were seized. Investigation revealed that the vehicle had been stolen from the Lado Sarai area, with an e-FIR already lodged.

Growing threat in the East

Despite the aggressive crackdown, officials admit that drug abuse involving heroin and meth-based injections has largely gone unnoticed in some areas. This includes Seemapuri in Shahdara and several localities under the jurisdiction of the North East district. According to police officials, the consequences of unchecked drug use in these areas have been “enormous”.

While not currently the most pressing concern, police acknowledge that such drug abuse patterns represent an emerging challenge in the capital’s evolving narcotics landscape.