In a major achievement for the Yogi Adityanath government, its ongoing massive crackdown on the drug dealers has resulted in seizure of more than two lakh kilograms of illegal drugs in the state.

With the direct monitoring by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, more than 2.41 lakh kilograms of illegal drugs were seized through raids in various districts of the state from the year 2020 to October 2023. Its value in the international market has been estimated at more than Rs 1,400 crore.

Additionally, more than 40,000 cases have been registered and more than 45,000 traders have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The stringent action against drug dealers has not only impacted the illegal trade significantly in the state but also led to the decline in related crimes.

Additional Director General (Crime) SK Bhagat said that in a swift action on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi, a total of 2,41,431 kg of illegal drugs had been seized in three years and 10 months.

This includes 1,94,346 kg ganja, 40,359 kg doda (poppy straw), 2,032 kg opium, 3,518 kg charas, 984 kg heroin (smack), 186 kg morphine and 3.82 kg cocaine.

Additionally, under the NDPS Act, legal proceedings have been initiated in 40,929 cases, leading to the arrest of 45,823 individuals. Property confiscation actions under Section 68 (E) and (F) of the Act have also been carried out in Hapur and Mathura.

Bhagat said that the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), formed to curb the drug trade, had seized 9349.93 kg of illegal drugs till October 23. This includes 43 kg morphine, 4.85 kg heroin (smack), 79.22 kg charas, 35.89 kg opium, 5965.15 kg doda (poppy straw) and 3259.92 kg ganja.

Meanwhile, the ANTF has registered 71 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 187 people. Moreover, the ANTF has demolished three illegal drug factories operating in the state. This includes two factories in Agra and one in Bareilly.

ANTF DIG Abdul Hameed said that so far this year, 40,905 kg of illegal drugs had been seized in eight zones of the state, while 6,013 cases had been registered against illegal drug dealers and 7,539 people had been arrested.

He said that a maximum of 10.816 kg of illegal drugs were seized in the Kanpur zone, 7,763 kg in the Varanasi zone, while 4,626 kg of illegal drugs were seized in the Meerut zone.

Similarly, 13,961 kg of illegal drugs were seized in seven police commissionerates, while 1,322 cases were registered against illegal drug dealers and 1,635 people were arrested.

The Agra police commissionerate seized the maximum of 4,460 kg of illegal drugs, while the Kanpur police commissionerate seized 3,265 kg, and Gautam Buddha Nagar police seized 2,703 kg of illegal drugs.