Nagpur: The city police have registered around 1,000 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act over the past two years, seizing drugs worth approximately ₹22 crore and arresting 1,438 accused. Ganja and Mephedrone (MD) lead the seizures with around 1,500kg of ganja valued at ₹3.36 crore recovered in 185 cases and 17kg of Mephedrone worth over ₹11 crore seized in 189 cases. The intensified drive forms part of ‘Operation Thunder' ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.
CP Ravinder Singal on Friday asserted that the cops will smash the economic backbone of the narco mafia. "We will smash narco mafia's economic strength and wealth," Singal said while addressing senior officers in an online meeting held on the eve of the anti-narcotics week — Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyaan – Vikshit Bharat ki Pehchan (June 17 to June 26). He directed officers to remove encroachments by peddlers or their kin and seize properties acquired through ill-gotten wealth.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the police department to follow a ‘Zero Tolerance' policy on narcotics. Singal urged his officers to involve citizens, parents, and senior citizens in the battle against drugs, stressing that creating a drug-free society is a collective responsibility. "The fight against drugs requires effective law enforcement along with full societal support so that the youth do not fall prey to narcotics. We launched ‘Operation Thunder' with this objective and are receiving excellent responses from society," he stated.
Singal also emphasised the need to reach out to slums and economically backward localities. He warned that strict action will continue and urged parents and relatives to monitor their wards more responsibly. In a high-level meeting with joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, DCP (Crime) Deepak Aggarwal, and all senior officers of the crime branch, a comprehensive three-pronged strategy focusing on prevention, awareness, and detection was finalised for the anti-narcotics week.
The plan includes organising religious lectures, classroom lectures in educational institutions, and targeted outreach programmes for transporters, autorickshaw owners and drivers, luxury bus operators, and other key stakeholders. Special corner meetings with youngsters, leveraging local sports tournaments as awareness platforms, and focused interventions from women and families involved in drug-related cases are also on the anvil.
Previous criminal histories of accused will be thoroughly verified and families will be engaged in prevention as well as rehabilitation efforts. Under ‘Operation U-Turn', intensive checks using advanced drug detection meters are being conducted outside pubs, bars, and crowded spots to curb consumption.
Complementing enforcement actions, awareness campaigns like ‘Police Didi' and ‘Police Kaka' are reaching out to schools, colleges, and residential localities. These initiatives highlight the ill effects of drugs, legal consequences, and available rehabilitation facilities.
So far, 719 drug users have been booked, and sustained efforts are underway to mainstream recovered addicts back into society, officers said.
Citizens have been urged to share credible information about drug peddlers, sale points, storage locations, transportation routes, or consumption spots with the police immediately. "Nagpur Police are committed to making the city drug-free. Your active cooperation is essential," Singal added.
The multi-pronged approach reflects the police department's resolve to not only curb the supply and consumption of narcotics but also dismantle the financial networks that sustain the narco mafia. With strong political backing from the chief minister and enthusiastic community participation, the ongoing operations aim to create a lasting impact and build a healthier, drug-free Nagpur.
