New Delhi, May 12 -- The Delhi Police on Tuesday destroyed nearly 1,700 kilograms of seized narcotics worth around Rs 72 crore and announced the setting up of the capital's first dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force police station, officials said.
The ninth mega drug destruction event was led by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu in the presence of Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and senior police officers at a waste disposal facility in north Delhi.
According to police, the destruction exercise was part of Delhi Police's "zero tolerance" policy against narcotics and an ongoing crackdown on drug traffickers, peddlers and organised drug syndicates operating in the national capital.
"The destroyed contraband included around 1,610 kilograms of cannabis, 21 kilograms of charas, 11 kilograms of heroin, 591 grams of cocaine, 21 kilograms of cannabis sativa and 30 kilograms of Alprazolam tablets seized by the crime branch and south district police units," a senior police officer said.
Addressing the gathering, Sandhu said the event was not merely about destroying narcotic substances but about dismantling an ecosystem that threatens the youth and harms society. He said the initiative reflected the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a 'Drug-Free India' and the Union government's resolve to curb narcotics trafficking across the country.
The L-G also lauded the Delhi Police for its sustained anti-drug operations and called upon citizens and all stakeholders to join the campaign against substance abuse.
"With Tuesday's destruction exercise, Delhi Police has so far destroyed approximately 46,500 kilograms of narcotics worth an estimated Rs 13,830 crore in the international market since the launch of the anti-drug drive," the officer said.
The force has conducted multiple destruction drives over the past three years, including destruction of more than 15,700 kg drugs in June 2023 and over 10,600 kg in February 2024 and December 2024. The Delhi Police said it has intensified financial investigations against narcotics networks and seized assets worth over Rs 11.25 crore this year. Data shared by the police showed that 1,129 cases under the NDPS Act were registered in Delhi till April 30 this year, leading to the arrest of 1,397 alleged drug traffickers and peddlers.
Police also said detention orders under the PITNDPS Act had been issued against nine alleged drug peddlers, while proposals against 48 repeat offenders involved in narco-smuggling were under process.
The event was organised at Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd near the Jahangirpuri Metro station in compliance with Supreme Court-mandated procedures for disposal of seized narcotics.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.