Delhi and drugs to part ways this decade, promises lg

| | New Delhi
1 2 3 4 5
  • 0

Delhi and drugs to part ways this decade, promises lg

Monday, 02 December 2024 | Saumya Shukla | New Delhi

Delhi and drugs to part ways this decade, promises lg

The National Capital is witnessing a staggering increase in the circulation of illicit drugs. In 2024 so far, Delhi has witnessed over 6,000 per cent rise in cocaine seizures while more than 7,000 per cent rise in charas in comparison to 2023, reflecting on the increased mobility of drug traffickers in the city. During the current year till November 15, Delhi Police has arrested 1,520 Narco-offenders in 1,121 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, ) cases. It has recovered about 1293.3 kgs of cocaine in the given period as compared to 21.14 kgs of the drugs recovered in 2023, including the recent big seizure of Rs 7,000 Crores worth of cocaine in October.

In comparison to 2023 when only 0.684 kgs of Charas was recovered, the police seized 50.5 kgs this year till November 15, a police officer said, adding that 73.3 kgs of heroin, 4257.3 kgs of Ganja, 103.7 kgs of Opium, and 80.5 kgs of poppy head were also recovered. In light of Delhi witnessing such a surge in drugs and to prevent the public from falling in this trap, the Delhi Police on Sunday launched a ‘One-Month Comprehensive Campaign as a Pilot Project’ with the vision to eradicate drugs from the city within three years.

With the campaign in action, the Delhi Police on Sunday claimed to have recovered Rs 3 Crore worth of Charas and dismantled an international drug syndicate involved in smuggling drugs worth crores into the country using the dark web, cryptocurrency and fake documents with the arrest of its mastermind.

In the first instance of a sustained effort in making the city drug free, Delhi Police’s Crime Branch dismantled a narco-syndicate indulged in supplying Charas with the arrest of five key operatives including three Nepal nationals. The syndicate was indulged in supply of drugs from Nepal and Kasol, Himachal Pradesh to Delhi-NCR.

A senior police official said that on November 20, a tip off was received regarding supply of Charas by a Nepal national in the Majnu ka Tila  area, to a local drug trafficker Mohd. Jameel. Accordingly, a raid was conducted and two persons namely 32-year-old Prem Thapa and 35-year-old Mohd Jameel were arrested, while they were dealing in Charas in a hotel  and 1192 grams of Charas classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act was recovered from them.

The investigation led to the arrest of three more traffickers including Ganga, who was indulged in supplying Charas at Sangam Vihar, Wazirabad. She was nabbed with 712 grams of Charas and later on, 13.766 Kg Charas was recovered from her bed room of her house. Ankit Buddha alias Thakren was also arrested, who was arrested from Kasol in Himachal Pradesh and is the main source who used to provide Charas to Prem Thapa.

Police also arrested Pradeep Kumar, who used to buy Charas from Prem Thapa and supply it to drug addicts of Faridabad and Ballabgarh. In the second instance, the police nabbed mastermind Lokesh Dhingra on Friday, whose syndicate imported 48 kg of marijuana worth Rs 20-25 crore in over three months, strategically avoiding detection of commercial quantities of the contraband. According to the police, the illegally acquired assets worth Rs 1.5 Crore were also seized.

Police started tailing members of the gang after a parcel containing 1.5 kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at Rs 1 Crore was seized at the RK Puram post office on October 18. More searches led to additional seizures worth Rs 2 Crore in transit. An FIR was registered under the NDPS Act, police said. “The mastermind Lokesh Dhingra alias Loki and his associates, Vivek and Mansher Singh fled after the initial seizures. Vivek was arrested in November 2023 after returning from Thailand. Dhingra and Singh were traced to a Gurugram flat owned by one woman who was arrested for harbouring the fugitives,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Satish Kumar said, adding that the syndicate used fake SIM cards, privacy tools and fake IDs to avoid detection, distributing contraband in Noida and Gurugram.  Dhingra, a habitual offender, has been detained and sent to jail, he said.

The ninth State Level Committee meeting of National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD), was convened on November 20, at Delhi Secretariat. Subsequently, a review meeting was held on November 26, at Raj Niwas, Delhi, under the chairmanship of the LG where he emphasized upon inter-departmental coordination, timely reporting, and strict compliance with directives for making Delhi drug free in three years.

In the campaign, they have decided that they will focus on “targeted locations for surveys, awareness programs, and raids including 200 hostels, 200 schools, 50 colleges, 200 pan shops, 200 pharmacy shops, 200 bars/pubs/clubs/restaurants, all shelter homes, all railway stations, three ISBTs, and other public places. It was also decided that there will be random checks on auto-rickshaws, taxi drivers, Courier/Parcel services, and e-Commerce Company(ies) suppliers, to curb drug trafficking involvement.”

Police will also involve hostel wardens, school principals, and university administrators to prevent drug-related incidents on their premises. “The LG also directed to give away handsome Cash Rewards to the general public for providing information related to “Drug Trafficking”, with the assurance to keep his name secret. He emphasized upon leveraging various platforms like print/visual media, social media, radio, and DTC buses/public transport to enhance public awareness,” a police officer said.

In the campaign, police will also collaborate with celebrities, influencers, NGOs, and community leaders to help ensure that the message resonates across all sections of society. All departments have been directed to appoint a Nodal Officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary or above, with clearly defined responsibilities. Further, all stakeholders will submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) by January 5, 2025, detailing the quantifiable outcomes of the December 2024 campaign.

Trending News

more

Sunday Edition

Chettinad: Unleashing the Ghosts of Imagination

16 February 2025 | Divya Bhatia | Agenda

A Sky Full of Wings

16 February 2025 | SAKSHI PRIYA | Agenda

Pan India Plates

16 February 2025 | Abhi Singhal | Agenda

Indulgent Flavours

16 February 2025 | Team Agenda | Agenda

Young and Rising Stars of Dining

16 February 2025 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

Reconnect with yourself

16 February 2025 | Rohit Kaul | Agenda

Chettinad: Unleashing the Ghosts of Imagination

16 February 2025 | Divya Bhatia | Agenda

A Sky Full of Wings

16 February 2025 | SAKSHI PRIYA | Agenda