29 April,2026 08:52 AM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Raids conducted based on specific inputs. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK
The Pune Police, in a special 23-day drive against narcotics trafficking, busted a drug racket and arrested a total of 19 individuals. The police also seized narcotics worth Rs 58 lakh. According to the police, in a sustained intelligence-led operation, the officials dismantled an interstate drug network with links to Rajasthan.
The operation was executed under the guidance of Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma, and Additional Commissioner Manoj Patil. The action was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Somay Munde and his team. Police officials asserted that such action against drug trafficking will continue.
The accused revealed that the narcotics were sourced from Rajasthan. A special police team was dispatched, where a follow-up operation led to the arrest of six more accused. With this, the police successfully dismantled the network, taking the total number of arrests to 19.
The Pune Police's crackdown targeted narcotics trafficking under Zone 7 between April 1 and April 23. Raids were carried out in key areas, including Wagholi, Lonikand, Lohegaon Airport, Chandan Nagar, and Kharadi, based on specific intelligence inputs.
The police teams registered 13 cases under the NDPS Act against individuals involved in the sale and consumption of drugs such as mephedrone (MD) and cannabis. Initially, 13 accused were arrested during the local operations.
The police seized 289.19 grams of MD, 422 grams of cannabis, and 260 grams of powder suspected to contain narcotic substances, collectively valued at R58,18,250. Further investigation in the case is underway, police officials said.
The police have appealed to citizens to immediately report any instances of drug sale or consumption to the nearest station or via the emergency helpline â112'. Authorities have assured that the identity of informants will be kept secret.
The Pune City Police Commissionerate has released a report titled âSAIYAM - The Status of Vulnerability to Addiction', highlighting rising addiction risks among youth. Conducted across 93 schools with 18,866 students, the study found significant exposure to harmful online content, growing dependency behaviours, and high screen time among teenagers. Key concerns include easy access to addictive substances, digital influence, and lack of awareness. The report stresses the need for stronger law enforcement, mental health support, and coordinated efforts by families, schools, and the community to prevent addiction.
