NAGPUR Crime Branch has stepped up its action against drug dealers and smugglers.The focus is no longer limited to catching people carrying small quantities of drugs. The police are trying to reach the suppliers, interstate networks and organised gangs operating behind the trade. The strategy appears to be showing results. In the first eight months of 2026, Crime Branch and its units registered 628 drugrelated cases. They arrested 765 accused persons and seized narcotics worth around Rs 5.17 crore. The total value of seized property was put at around Rs 6.89 crore. In comparison, 455 cases were registered during the same period in 2025. The number of arrests was 583 and narcotics worth Rs 2.47 crore were seized.

 

 

Thus, cases increased by 38.02 per cent, while arrests rose by 31.22 per cent.The value of seized narcotics more than doubled. The biggest change is visible in action against MD (mephedrone). Crime Branch registered 73 cases related to MD sezure during January-August 2026. It seized 10.32 kg of the synthetic drug and arrested 117 accused. During the corresponding period last year, there were 64 MD cases. The seizure was only 2.66 kg, while 133 accused were arrested.The quantity seized this year has therefore increased by nearly 288 per cent. Three major actions show how the police are trying to break the supply chain. On February 14, the Anti-Narcotics Cell arrested Sanjay Gangwani near Agyaram Devi Temple in Ganeshpeth. Police seized 512 gm of MD, valued at more than Rs 1 crore. During the investigation, the police found an Indore-Nagpur interstate supply link. On May 31, Crime Branch carried out one of its biggest drug actions of the year in the Kapil Nagar-Teka Naka area. Police seized 7.5 kg of MD, valued at around Rs 10 crore. The seizure was considered the biggest drug haul in Nagpur city till then in 2026. Another important action came on June 10. The Social Security Cell intercepted a bus near the Samruddhi Mahamarg toll plaza at Hingna. Two alleged traffickers were arrested and 111 gm of MD, worth more than Rs 11 lakh, was seized. The probe indicated a Mumbai-Nagpur supply route.

 

These cases show a common pattern. Drugs are not always sourced locally. Suppliers from other cities are sending consignments to Nagpur through different routes and modes of transport. Crime Branch is therefore trying to use the investigation after every seizure to identify the next link. Ganja has also emerged as a major target. The police registered 71 Ganja cases in the first eight months and seized nearly 940 kg. This was a sharp rise from 334 kg seized in 56 cases during the same period in 2025. The seizure quantity increased by more than 181 per cent. The police have also started using tougher laws against organised drug networks. MCOCA charges were added against 15 accused in cases registered at Panchpaoli, Kapilnagar and Ajni police stations. A police offiical said that the strategy is also not restricted to enforcement. “Under the Maharashtra DrugFree Campaign and the Zero Tolerance policy, awareness programmes havereportedly reached around two lakh people,” he said. It may be mentioned here that the then CP, Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, had launched ‘Operation Thunder’ on October 17, 2024, to curb the drug menace in Nagpur city.The operation is nowbearing fruit. 

 

 

 

 

 DCP Detection Deepak Aggrawal said that the Crime Branch is working on two fronts. One is to catch peddlers and consumers. We are identifying suppliers, transporters and organised gangs and arresting them.