Anti-drug drive: Northern Range police seize narcotics worth Rs 12.3L

Belagavi: A special week-long anti-drug drive by Northern Range police has led to the registration of 16 cases and the seizure of nearly 27 kg of narcotic substances worth over Rs 12.3 lakh. The drive was conducted between June 21 and 28, as part of Drug Awareness Week and coincided with activities marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.Coordinated operations were carried out across Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Gadag districts. Police raided suspicious locations, monitored the activities of suspected peddlers, reviewed the records of habitual offenders, and conducted awareness programmes.The crackdown comes after senior IPS officer Sandeep Patil assumed charge as the IGP, Northern Range. Several preventive measures have since been initiated to curb the storage, transportation, sale, and consumption of narcotic substances.According to police, 427 kg and 29 grams of narcotic substances have been seized under the NDPS Act across North Range so far in 2026. The estimated value of the seized contraband is Rs 1,12,49,510. During the special operation from June 21 to 28, police seized 26 kg and 987 grams of narcotic substances valued at approximately Rs 12,38,788. Officials said the figures point to the need for sustained enforcement and surveillance, as the drug trade could be spreading into smaller towns and rural pockets.

Police have initiated stringent action against four individuals--Nagaraj Doddappa Mutaraj of Gadag, Deepak Ravasaheb Naik of Hukkeri, and Baburao Lavate and Yallappa Chavan of Vijayapura district, for allegedly being involved in repeated storage, sale and transportation of narcotics.Police conducted a total of 1,106 awareness programmes in schools and colleges, across the five districts.