Bengaluru police seize narcotics worth ₹25.23 crore, arrest 17 including three foreign nationals
In a series of anti-drug operations, the Bengaluru City Police have busted multiple drug trafficking networks and seized narcotics and banned substances worth an estimated
In a series of anti-drug operations, the Bengaluru City Police have busted multiple drug trafficking networks and seized narcotics and banned substances worth an estimated ₹25.23 crore in the illegal market. A total of 17 suspects, including three foreign nationals, eight persons from other States, and six local residents, were arrested in raids conducted at different locations across the city over the past few weeks. The seized contraband includes 10.306 kg of MDMA, 127.302 kg of ganja, 3.314 kg of hydro ganja, 300 e-cigarettes, 90 hookah flavour packets, 300 hookah pots, and other prohibited tobacco products.
Of the total seizure, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) accounted for the largest haul, recovering 10.270 kg of MDMA and 2.44 kg of hydro ganja, collectively valued at around ₹23 crore in the illegal market. Addressing the media, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the city police have seized narcotic substances worth more than ₹200 crore so far this year. Officials from the CCB in Subramanyanagar, Madiwala, Rajajinagar, Whitefield, Tilaknagar, Yeshwanthpur and Indiranagar police stations carried out coordinated raids at identified locations across Bengaluru, leading to the arrests and seizures.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that they procured narcotic substances at low prices from unidentified suppliers based in foreign countries, other states, and within Karnataka before selling them at higher prices to the general public and college students for illegal profit. The police said the accused also confessed to manufacturing tobacco products of various brands in violation of the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. Apart from the narcotics, the police also seized seven mobile phones, one car, and six two-wheelers believed to have been used in the illegal trade.
All the accused have been produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. The police said further investigation is under way to identify the source of the drugs and trace the supply network behind the racket.
The BriefWire