Delhi Police nabs 255 drug offenders in 48-hour crackdown; 1,474 teams raid 4,035 spots citywide

The Delhi Police has arrested 255 alleged drug offenders and registered 212 narcotics cases during a 48-hour citywide crackdown under ‘Operation Kavach 14.0’, officials said on Friday.

The operation, which commenced 6 pm on June 22 and culminated at the same hour on June 24, saw simultaneous raids at 4,035 locations across all 15 police districts, with participation of district police, crime branch and special cell personnel.

According to police, 1,474 police teams were formed to carry out the coordinated crackdown against traffickers, peddlers and criminal syndicates.

They said the raids led to the seizure of 237.46 kg ganja, 5.18 kg of hydroponic cannabis, nearly 1.1 kg heroin, 159.8 grams of cocaine, 366.48 grams of charas, 101.1 grams of MDMA, 186 grams methamphetamine, 2,640 buprenorphine (opioid) tablets, 287 pheniramine (regulated anti-histamine) injections, along with Rs 23.27 lakh in suspected cash proceeds of drug trade.

Among highlights, police arrested two alleged traffickers and recovered over 5.2 kg of hydroponic cannabis, cocaine, charas and MDMA along with Rs 4.27 lakh cash and live ammunition, officials said.

In another case, police arrested a man near ISBT Kashmere Gate with 122 grams of cocaine concealed in his motorcycle.

Police also arrested three persons in Narela and recovered 262 grams of heroin, while another peddler was held in Narela Industrial Area with 276 grams of heroin and cash.

A total of 212 cases under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered during the operation, officials said.

Additionally, police registered 398 cases under the Delhi Excise Act and apprehended 405 persons, recovering 53,448 quarters of illicit liquor. Another 4,498 people were arrested under excise provisions for drinking in public.

Police also registered 315 cases under the Arms Act and arrested 329 accused, recovering six pistols, 90 country-made firearms, 147 live cartridges and 242 knives.

Police also targeted gambling activities, arresting 600 people in 307 cases and recovering over Rs 7.16 lakh in cash.

Besides, 49 proclaimed offenders and 55 auto-lifters were arrested, with 60 stolen vehicles recovered.

As part of preventive policing, 1,900 persons were arrested under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) provisions, while over 60,800 people were detained under the Delhi Police Act.

Authorities also checked 5,977 history-sheeters, prosecuted 8,768 violators under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), and inspected 1,429 parks, public places and toilets as part of cordon-and-search operations.

Officials said the operation has significantly disrupted drug supply chains in the city, forcing several major traffickers to go underground and shift their stock outside Delhi to neighbouring areas like Noida.

Officials said traffickers, who earlier transported narcotics in bulk through trucks, are increasingly switching to smaller consignments through cars and trains to evade detection.