In the first five months of 2024, anti-narcotics teams in Maharashtra seized drugs worth a staggering Rs 4,131 crore, marking a 360% increase from the previous year. This concerning data was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis during a recent state legislative council session. Some police officials were also implicated in the drug trade and subsequently dismissed.
Responding to a query raised by Congress legislator Ashok alias Bhai Jagtap, Fadnavis stated, “The anti-narcotics teams conducted 12,648 operations in 2023 seizing contraband valued at Rs 897 crore. However, the operations ramped up significantly in 2024 with 6,529 operations resulting in the seizure of banned substances worth Rs 4,131 crore.”
These crackdowns were part of a joint action plan initiated by the Centre to combat the production and trade of banned substances, involving coordinated efforts of various departments. The uncovering of police officials’ involvement in such illegal activities underscores the magnitude of the issue.
Published 11 July 2024, 10:18 IST