New Delhi, Feb 10, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than Rs. 25,000 crore worth of drugs were seized in 2024 as part of the Zero Tolerance policy against drugs.
Government sources said today that, Under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, while implementing zero-tolerance policy against drugs, in 2024, all law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), seized narcotics worth approximately ₹25,330 crore, which is more than 55% higher compared to the ₹16,100 crore worth of drugs seized in 2023. This success is a testament to the ‘Bottom to Top’ and ‘Top to Bottom’ approach adopted under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. The Modi government is moving forward with a Whole-of-Government Approach to create a drug-free India.
In 2024, the seizure of more harmful and addictive synthetic drugs, cocaine, and pharmaceutical drugs used as psychotropic substances has increased significantly, which are also of much higher value.
In 2024, the quantity of ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants)like Methamphetamine has more than doubled from 34 quintals in 2023 to 80 quintals in 2024. Similarly quantity of cocaine seized has also gone up from 292 Kgs in 2023 to 1426 Kgs in 2024.The quantity of seized Mephedrone has also gone up from 688 kgs in 2023 in comparison to 3391 kgs in 2024. Likewise, quantity of Hashish seized has gone up from 34 Quintal in 2023 to 61 Quintal in 2024.The quantity of pharmaceutical drugs which are increasingly being abused as psychotropic substances has gone up from 1.84 crore to 4.69 crore in number (Tablets).
Major operations conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in collaboration with various agencies in 2024:
February 2024: NCB and Special Cell of Delhi Police busts an international drugs trafficking network with the arrest of three people and seizure of 50 kg narcotics-making chemical Pseudoephedrine. A joint team of NCB and Delhi Police busted the network acting on information provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities.
February 2024: In a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-1’, carried out by NCB, Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a gigantic consignment of approximate 3300 kg of drugs (3110 Kg Charas/Hashish, 158.3 Kg crystalline powder Meth and 24.6 Kg Suspected Heroin) was seized in the Indian Ocean. It was a record in itself in terms of the amount of offshore seizure of Charas/Hashish on the beach in the country. Five suspected foreign nationals were detained in this case.
March 2024: NCB arrested Jaffer Sadiq, the kingpin of the drug trafficking network busted by it in the month of February, 2024. Jaffer Sadiq was absconding and on the run since 15th February, 2024 when NCB seized 50.070 kg of Pseudoephedrine from the godown of a firm and arrested three accomplices of Jaffer Sadiq in this connection
April 2024: In a joint maritime operation by NCB, ATS of Gujarat Police and Indian Coast Guard, a foreign boat carrying 86 kgs (approx.) Heroin was seized and 14 Pakistani nationals were arrested. Drugs worth Approx. Rs.602 Crore were seized during the operation.
October 2024:NCB conducted a search operation in a factory in Kasna Industrial Area of district Gautam Budh Nagar and found about 95 kg of Methamphetamine in solid and liquid forms. Chemicals like Acetone, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylene Chloride, Premium grade Ethanol, Toluene, Red phosphorus, Ethyl Acetate etc and imported machinery for manufacturing were also found.
November 2024: In a major breakthrough against the drug trafficking syndicates operating in India and especially in Delhi NCR Region, the Narcotics Control Bureau recovered one of the biggest haul of Cocaine at Delhi. After working on the leads generated in these cases, and through technical and human intelligence, the NCB was finally able to reach at the source of the contraband and 82.53 Kg of high grade Cocaine was recovered from Janakpuri and Nangloi area of Delhi.
November 2024: In a joint operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan-4’, the NCB, Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized approx. 700 kg of contraband Meth in Gujarat.
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