India, Aug. 5 -- The Delhi Police has arrested 254 foreign nationals in drug trafficking cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) since 2024, with narcotics worth over Rs 40.53 crore seized from them, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. It also said action has been taken against 63 landlords who rented 103 foreign nationals in their premises without mandatory tenant verification. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that, according to Delhi Police, 254 foreign nationals residing in the NCR were arrested in cases related to illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs between 2024 and June 30, 2026. Also Read - Factory wall collapse kills two firefighters The arrests include foreign nationals, including those of Nigerian origin, apprehended from areas such as Khanpur Extension, Deoli, Sangam Vihar, Mehrauli, Hauz Rani, Uttam Nagar and adjoining parts of west Delhi. The year-wise data showed that 40 foreign nationals were arrested in 2024, 35 in 2025 and 15 during the first half of 2026 in the specified areas. The seizures included heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, ecstasy, ganja and charas, with the estimated value pegged at Rs 12.75 crore in 2024, Rs 14.27 crore in 2025 and Rs 13.50 crore up to June 30 this year. The minister informed that 103 foreign nationals were found residing in rented accommodation without mandatory tenant verification during the period. Action has been taken against 63 landlords, while tenant verification, including of foreign nationals, is carried out regularly by the Delhi Police to maintain security and Also Read - GZB: Kanwariya killed in NH-9 road accident, another dies after snakebite law and order. In a separate reply to a question seeking to know if Haryana has been identified as a key transit route for interstate narcotics trafficking between Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and hilly states, the minister noted that no state can be categorised as a permanent transit route, as trafficking patterns remain dynamic and are continuously evaluated based on intelligence inputs and enforcement actions. "The issue is also reviewed through the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism and actionable intelligence is shared with the concerned enforcement agencies for coordinated action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said. The government plans dedicated Darknet and Cryptocurrency Cells in all Anti-Narcotics Task Forces under its 2026-2029 narcotics vision. The NCB is also using AI, cyber experts and digital forensics to target online drug trafficking, cryptocurrency transactions and organised networks, alongside stronger financial investigations and international cooperation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.