Delhi Crime Branch Takes Down Drug Dealers: 43 Arrested, Narcotics Worth Crores Seized

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police announced on Sunday that it has apprehended more than 43 individuals and confiscated drugs valued at Rs 1-2 crore. These actions were carried out through simultaneous raids conducted at 100 different locations across the national capital under the initiative named Operation Kawach.

According to police sources, they have also identified more than 64 hotspots within the city where the sale and consumption of drugs such as heroin, MDMA, ganja, and other narcotics are prevalent. It has been reported that a significant number of the apprehended individuals were specifically targeting school and college students.

Since January, the Delhi Police have been actively engaged in combating drug abuse, as well as detecting and preventing its spread among both young children and adults. These efforts have been undertaken under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Ravindra Singh Yadav, the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), stated, “We have carried out our actions in accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). Over the past five months, we have arrested 534 offenders in 412 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases. In the process, we have successfully recovered approximately 35 kg of heroin/smack, 15 kg of cocaine, 1,500 kg of ganja, 230 kg of opium, 10 kg of charas, and 20 kg of poppy husk.”

To increase their effectiveness, the police formed 80 specialized teams and instructed field officers to apprehend more offenders. Between May 12 and 13, these teams conducted raids at 100 locations, leading to the arrest of over 43 drug peddlers.

Yadav further added, “This operation was a collaborative effort involving the district police. We utilized undercover officers, surveillance teams, canine squads, and intelligence teams for assistance. Our operation successfully targeted drug dealers at both the street-level and higher levels in Delhi.”

The majority of the drug recoveries were made in the areas of North Delhi, Rohini, Dwarka, and East Delhi.