In a significant inter-state operation, the Maharashtra Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in collaboration with Karnataka Police has conducted coordinated raids in Bengaluru and Belagavi, leading to the seizure of narcotics raw materials and multiple arrests. The operation, which took place around Christmas, has sparked a political debate regarding the scale of the drug menace in Karnataka.
Joint Operation Nets Four Arrests
The crackdown began following the arrest of an alleged drug peddler, Abdul Kadar Sheik (43), in Mumbai by the Maharashtra ANTF. Interrogations led the authorities to his associates in Karnataka. On December 24, police apprehended Prashanth Yellappa Patil in Belagavi, Suraj Ramesh Yadav in Kattiganahalli, Yelahanka (Bengaluru), and Malkhan Ramlal Bishnoi in Kannur (Bengaluru). The subsequent raids on December 25 targeted locations within the limits of Kothanuru, Bagaluru, and Avalahalli police stations in Bengaluru.
Clarification on Seizure Value and Nature
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara addressed the media to provide clarity on the operation's findings. He emphasized that the seized substances were not finished drugs but raw chemicals used in their manufacture, with the raids successfully conducted before any production could begin. The minister contested the initial valuation provided by ANTF, which pegged the seizure at a staggering Rs 55 crore.
"It is about 3.5kg of chemicals, which cost approximately Rs 30 lakh per kg. In total, it is approximately Rs 1.2 crore. It's not Rs 55.8 crore; it's a smaller amount. They have claimed it to be Rs 55.8 crore, which is why I'm issuing a clarification," Parameshwara stated. He described the haul as being stored in a carpenter shop and a house.
Political Reactions and Broader Anti-Drug Drive
The operation unfolded against a backdrop of criticism from the opposition BJP, which has accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the drug problem. In his defense, Home Minister Parameshwara highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Karnataka police. He noted that since November, based on intelligence that peddlers might stock up for New Year celebrations, the state police have intensified operations, leading to total drug seizures worth Rs 165 crore so far.
Parameshwara also stressed the collaborative nature of the recent raids, clarifying that projecting it as solely a Maharashtra ANTF operation was incorrect. A dedicated Karnataka police team led by a DCP, along with scene-of-crime officers and a team from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), were integral partners in the mission.
The successful joint operation underscores the increasing coordination between state agencies in tackling the interstate drug trade, while the valuation dispute highlights the complexities involved in assessing the street value of precursor chemicals.
