In a massive crackdown on narcotics, Gujarat police has seized contrabandworth over Rs 7 crore in the week preceding New Year celebrations. This includes a seizure of Rs 6.18 crore worth hydroponic cannabis by the Surat police as well as Rs 1 crore worth contraband by the Ahmedabad City Detection of Crime Branch (DCB), in a joint operation with the Ahmedabad Special Operations Group (SOG) in less than a week.
On Wednesday, the Ahmedabad DCB said it had lodged 21 criminal cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 25 drug peddlers and individuals involved in the smuggling of narcotics with a total contraband worth Rs 1 crore seized in seven days. This stash was recovered, following raids in a joint operation between the DCB and SOG in a “zero-tolerance” approach toward drug trafficking and consumption. The Ahmedabad police recovered a major haul of Mephedrone (MD), Ganja, and Charas were recovered during the raids. While the seizure of MD drugs remains the largest contraband, the Ahmedabad police said that it had changed its approach to target the “small quantity peddlers” to crack down on drug consumption at the lowest level.
Ahmedabad DCB, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “Moving away from only targeting large commercial consignments, the joint teams are now targeting small quantities as well. This strategy is designed to break the street-level distribution hubs that directly feed local addiction and lure the youth into the drug trap.”
The police have also launched a detailed probe into the financial trail of peddlers. “The ongoing investigation is not limited to physical seizures. For the first time, preliminary investigations are heavily focusing on Narco-Finance to trace the money trail and identify how drug profits are being laundered and reinvested. By freezing assets and disrupting the financial backbone of these syndicates, the Crime Branch and SOG aim to ensure that these criminal networks cannot regroup…” the Ahmedabad DCB said.
Similar seizures have been made in Surat as well as Vadodara city. While Surat DCB on Tuesday had seized hydroponic cannabis worth Rs 6.18 crores from two passengers who arrived at Surat airport from Bangkok, other contraband worth Rs 12.5 lakhs has also been seized in the city since December 16.
In Vadodara, the city police have lodged a total of 26 NDPS cases and arrested 30 persons in an ongoing drive against narcotics since November 11. The total quantity of contraband seized in Vadodara during the drive is worth Rs 31 lakhs.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, on Wednesday, also urged addicted individuals to opt for rehabilitation supported by the police. “While peddlers will face the full force of the law, genuinely addicted persons who are willing to undergo rehabilitation will be supported… Under Section 64A of the NDPS Act, any addict charged with offences involving small quantities or consumption (Section 27) who voluntarily seeks medical treatment for de-addiction from a government-recognized institution may be granted immunity from prosecution. The (Ahmedabad) Crime Branch encourages families and individuals to come forward and choose rehabilitation over incarceration,” the statement said.
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Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad DCB, Ajit Rajiaan, said, “Our goal is to clean the streets of Ahmedabad. We are hitting the peddlers where it hurts—their finances—while simultaneously offering a helping hand to those who want to quit. If you are an addict seeking a way out, the law provides you a chance for a new life. If you are a peddler, there is nowhere to hide.”
Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues.
Expertise:
Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including:
Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground.
Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure.
Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case).
Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions.
Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More
