Assam Intensifies Crackdown on Drug Trafficking Ahead of Festivities
Enhanced Anti-Drug Operations in Assam
Dhubri Police during fresh drug-trafficking crackdown (Photo: Dhubri Police/Meta)
Guwahati, Oct 13: Assam has ramped up its efforts against drug-related crimes, resulting in the arrest of 47 individuals in Dhubri district and 12 in Darrang as the festive season approaches.
In Dhubri, law enforcement apprehended 47 suspects across eight police station jurisdictions as part of a focused initiative against drug trafficking.
The operations spanned the areas of Dhubri, Gauripur, Bilasipara, Fakirganj, Chapar, Sapatgram, Tamarhat, and Golakganj police stations.
Gauripur reported the highest number of arrests with 13, followed by Dhubri with 11, Bilasipara with eight, Golakganj with six, and Chapar with four.
Fakirganj and Tamarhat each saw two arrests, while one individual was taken into custody in Sapatgram.
This crackdown aligns with the State government's ongoing commitment to combat drug issues under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's anti-drug campaign.
According to police sources, operations are set to persist in the upcoming days, with additional raids and arrests expected as investigations continue.
Some of those detained are believed to be repeat offenders with prior drug-related charges.
The district police are concentrating on identifying potential drug dealers and disrupting the distribution of illegal substances. However, specific details regarding the charges against those arrested, the substances confiscated, and the status of individual cases remain undisclosed.
In Darrang, police have intensified anti-drug efforts in vulnerable areas across six police stations, coupled with public awareness initiatives aimed at reducing drug trafficking and sales during the festive period.
Darrang Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarmistha Baruah reported that nine cases have been filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the booking of 12 individuals.
“To date, we have registered nine cases under the NDPS Act, and 12 individuals have been booked,” Baruah stated.
During the operations, police confiscated contraband valued at approximately Rs 97.83 lakh, including 443.1 grams of suspected heroin, 17.193 kg of suspected ganja, 900 Nitrazepam tablets, and 25 bottles of codeine phosphate cough syrup.
The Darrang police are also monitoring around 24 additional suspected drug dealers as part of their strategy to dismantle the broader network. Authorities have identified properties and assets worth about Rs 38.70 lakh for freezing under the NDPS Act.
In addition to the anti-drug measures, the district police have enforced tobacco regulations, collecting Rs 4,200 in fines under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) during their operations.
Officials have indicated that rigorous surveillance, raids, and anti-drug enforcement will continue throughout Darrang during the festive season to combat drug trafficking and sales.