Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 14 (ANI): Shimla police have intensified their campaign against drug trafficking, registering around 200 cases under the NDPS Act and arresting nearly 440 people so far this year, Additional Superintendent of Police Shimla Mehar Panwar said on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Panwar said the police had adopted a comprehensive approach targeting not only drug seizures but also the supply networks and their financial foundations.
"Under the NDPS Act, around 200 cases have been registered this year and nearly 440 people have been arrested. We have seized around 4.3 kg of chitta (heroin), 15 kg of charas and 14 kg of opium," Panwar said.
She said the police had also destroyed more than 10 lakh cannabis plants and taken action against illegal opium cultivation. Other narcotics, including commercial quantities of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and crystal meth, had also been seized.
According to Panwar, the seizure of chitta has increased nearly fourfold compared with the previous year.
She said the police were now focusing on dismantling entire supply networks and reaching the main suppliers and kingpins operating them.
"Our focus has shifted from seizures to identifying the entire network and ensuring the arrest of every person involved. We have arrested 65 major suppliers and kingpins operating different networks," Panwar said.
The arrests were made after investigations spanning several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as well as the Nepal border. Police also arrested a person from Kerala in one of the cases.
Panwar said the Shimla police had dismantled around 50 major inter-state drug networks supplying narcotics in Himachal Pradesh.
"We have worked through different layers of the supply chain to reach the main person who is financially benefiting from the illegal trade. In this manner, around 50 networks have been completely dismantled," she said.
The police have also initiated preventive action against habitual drug traffickers operating in Shimla district.
Panwar said around 40 people have so far been detained under preventive provisions, with detention periods ranging from three months and, in some cases, extending up to six months.
In a significant expansion of its anti-drug operation, the Shimla police have also targeted the financial assets generated through drug trafficking.
The police have so far seized properties worth approximately Rs 6.46 crore, including assets located outside Shimla district in states such as Punjab.
The seized assets include luxury vehicles, flats, residential and commercial buildings, jewellery and cash.
"For the first time in Shimla district, we have focused on the economic foundation of these networks. Properties acquired through drug trafficking have been identified and seizure proceedings initiated," Panwar said.
Panwar said the police would continue taking action against drug trafficking on every front.
"We will continue taking action in this manner and intensify our efforts against drugs in every aspect in the future. Our objective is to make the state and Shimla district drug-free," she said. (ANI)
Shimla Police intensifies anti-drug drive, registers 2000 NDPS cases and arrests 440 people
