In a major crackdown against the city’s growing narcotics trade, the Bengaluru City Police have seized drugs worth Rs 81.21 crore since the beginning of 2025, marking one of the biggest anti-narcotics drives in recent years. The operations have resulted in the registration of 711 cases and the arrest of 1,048 people, including 1,013 Indian nationals and 35 foreign nationals, Commissioner of Police Seemanth Kumar Singh announced on October 7.
According to official data available till October 8, 2025, police have confiscated 1,483.30 kilograms of narcotic substances through continuous raids, intelligence-led operations, and surveillance across the city.
Commissioner Singh said that dedicated teams have been formed across all divisions, comprising officials from the Central Crime Branch (CCB), civil police, City Armed Reserve (CAR), and Canine (dog) squads, along with forensic support from the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) unit. These joint teams have been actively conducting surprise raids, nakabandis (blockades), and technical surveillance to trace drug peddlers and dismantle supply networks.
“We are using both human intelligence and technical surveillance to track peddlers and suppliers. Monitoring of social media, surface web, and darknet platforms has also been intensified to identify online drug networks and digital transactions related to narcotics,” Singh stated.
The city police have maintained close coordination with the FRRO, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to address cross-border trafficking and initiate deportation proceedings against foreign nationals involved in the drug trade. Police have also warned house owners who fail to report details of foreign tenants, adding that strict action is being taken against such negligence.
To strengthen prevention measures, awareness campaigns are being conducted in schools, colleges, NGOs, and civic groups, highlighting the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of early intervention.
In the past one month alone, police have seized narcotics valued at Rs 23.84 crore and arrested six persons, including two foreign nationals, in separate operations across the city. Acting on intelligence inputs, the CCB and canine units carried out simultaneous raids at several locations, uncovering large caches of synthetic drugs.
One major operation conducted within Parappana Agrahara Police limits resulted in the arrest of Laduram, a native of Rajasthan. From his possession, police seized 7.176 kg of hydro-ganga, 1.399 kg of MDMA crystals, and 2.03 kg of opium. Investigations revealed that Laduram, who had been working as a driver in Bengaluru since 2024, turned to drug peddling three months ago due to financial distress and connections with an interstate network.
In two separate cases, the CCB team seized drugs worth Rs 7 crore from suspicious parcels at the foreign post office under K.G. Nagar police limits. Using sniffer dogs, police detected packages containing 7 kg of hydro-ganga and other banned substances allegedly smuggled from Thailand and Germany. Two persons have been arrested in connection with these consignments.
In another major bust, two foreign women were arrested by Kothanur Police for possessing 4.815 kg of MDMA crystals valued at Rs 12.03 crore. Cases have been filed under the NDPS Act and the Foreigners Act, and further investigation is underway to trace the larger network.
The Bengaluru City Police have vowed to sustain and expand their anti-narcotics operations through enhanced inter-agency coordination, improved intelligence gathering, and increased community participation. “Our goal is to make Bengaluru a drug-free city. Those who destroy young lives through the drug trade will face the full force of the law,” Commissioner Singh asserted.
