Police meet e-commerce giants to curb sale of contraband
Concerned with the unabated sale and delivery of firecrackers, knives and other contraband items through e-commerce platforms and their delivery channels, Delhi Police on Wednesday organised an interaction session with key public and private stakeholders associated with leading e-commerce companies.
The interaction focused on the immediate and permanent removal of illegal and restricted items from online marketplaces.
Representatives from major platforms including BigBasket, Flipkart, Apollo, Swiggy, Amazon, Tata 1mg, Blinkit, Snapdeal, Reliance Retail, Porter, Netmeds, Nykaa and IndiaMART attended the session. Officials from the Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, also participated.
During the session, Delhi Police gave presentations on preventing the misuse of logistics platforms for drug trafficking and the sale of illegal and prohibited items such as walkie-talkies, GPS jammers, flick knives, pistol replicas, etc.
The Drugs Control Department also presented on “E-Pharmacies in a Regulatory Vacuum: Legal Unsustainability and Public Health Risk.”
The official from the Drug Control Department, Delhi Government, emphasised that drugs scheduled under H & X shall only be sold on prescription of a registered medical practitioner.
The meeting chaired by Devesh Chander Srivastava, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), addressed the growing concern of restricted tactical gear and contraband being made accessible through digital platforms.
Police authorities issued clear directions to e-commerce representatives to strengthen their internal auditing algorithms and manual vetting processes, particularly in the following categories: Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances: Strict enforcement against the sale of illicit drugs or prescription medicines without valid verification.
Prohibited Weapons: Immediate removal of listings for button-operated knives (switchblades) and other illegal weapons.
Imitation Firearms: Complete ban on pistol replicas that may be mistaken for real firearms, posing risks to public order.
Police Uniforms and Insignia: Restriction on the sale of official uniforms, badges, and insignia to prevent impersonation.
Restricted Electronic Devices: De-listing of GPS jammers and unauthorised high-frequency walkie-talkies that interfere with regulated communication systems.
