In a significant crackdown on narcotics, the Nagpur City Police, under the leadership of Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal, have seized illegal drugs and contraband worth ₹8.65 crore between March 1, 2024, and June 17, 2025, as part of Operation Thunder: Let’s Unite for a Drug-Free Society. The operation falls under the broader ‘Drug-Free Nagpur’ mission aimed at curbing the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in the city.
Launched with a vision to create a narcotics-free environment in Nagpur, the operation targets not only drug peddlers and possessors but also habitual users. A total of 730 individuals were apprehended during this four-month span, including those caught selling, storing, or consuming banned substances.
The police registered 540 cases during this period. Among the major seizures, MD (mephedrone) powder accounted for the largest portion, with 94 cases involving 5.94 kg of the synthetic drug, valued at ₹6.81 crore. Ganja (marijuana) followed, with 100 cases involving 473.77 kg worth ₹1.66 crore. Other notable recoveries include 128.1 kg of doda (poppy husk), 1.548 kg of opium, and 1.75 kg of charas (hashish). Additionally, 399 drug use-related cases were recorded, leading to the detention of 344 users.
Under Operation Thunder, the city police, along with officers from Crime Branch units and all local police stations, formed dedicated teams to revisit records of NDPS offenders from 2020 to 2025. These teams tracked down accused persons at their last known addresses, conducted house searches, and verified their whereabouts. Several accused were found to be deceased, jailed, absconding, or had abandoned their residences. In such cases, special teams were deployed to trace them further.
The arrested individuals were brought to the Crime Branch office where their mobile phones were checked for forward and backward linkages. Their biometric data, fingerprints, and photographs were collected and updated in the ‘SIMBA’ crime tracking system, enabling law enforcement to instantly access their criminal background in the event of future offenses.
Besides seizures, the operation also focuses on community outreach programs to raise awareness about the consequences of drug abuse. The Commissioner emphasized that such action is essential not only for reducing crime but also for instilling a sense of safety among citizens.
Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal reiterated that Operation Thunder will continue aggressively in the coming months and urged citizens to report any drug-related activities in their localities. Nagpur Police remain committed to the goal of building a secure, drug-free city.
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