Nagpur: As part of the Drug-Free Nagpur campaign, the City Police launched ‘Operation Thunder’, targeting 153 drug-peddlers with cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act from 2020 to 2024.
“Tech-savvy drug peddlers are using ‘emojis’ on social media and the dark web to sell contraband substances”, said Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal on Friday. Singal, who spearheaded the six-hour night-long operation which ended at 6 am on Friday, with his teams rounding up 153 peddlers during sweeping raids across Nagpur.
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The operation spanned six hours, during which all five Crime Branch units and staff from all police stations conducted searches at the residential premises of these offenders to determine if they were still involved in drug-related activities. The Top Cop stated that police aimed to check approximately 800 offenders, but many were either incarcerated, had left the city, or were untraceable. Crack police teams are working on 500 peddlers, who went underground in the run-up to elections.
Singal stated that face-recognition software installed in CCTV cameras would begin sending out alerts to help cops intercept peddlers ferrying contraband across the city. The city police chief stated their generative AI tool, Simba App, at their command-and-control room, is being updated with latest data and images of peddlers to ensure these are fed in the facial recognition technology in CCTV cameras.
He said, police have seized more than 419 kg of contraband substances worth Rs 3.6 crore, while arresting 162 peddlers and 99 addicts between January 1 and September 30. Flanked by Joint CP Nisar Tamboli, Addl CP Sanjay Patil, DCP (Crime) Rahul Maknikar, and others, Singal said ‘Operation Thunder’ was kicked off shortly after midnight on Thursday across the city.
“We have a database of 800 peddlers along with offences in recent years. During crackdowns at their residences, hideouts, and dens, it came to the fore that 15 are behind bars, one died, 164 left the city, while 500 were untraceable. The 153 peddlers were found at addresses available in police records. Their latest information was recorded, and our database was upgraded to create a centralised data bank,” said Singal, adding around six women peddlers were also found. “Some peddlers, like the women, visit pubs and lounges where they are known to supply drugs among patrons. We are also working on tip-offs on pub peddlers,” said the CP, adding his teams are constantly communicating and sharing information with central agencies like Central Narcotics Bureau.
Singal also stated that transportation systems are under surveillance as possible platforms for peddlers to courier their drugs. “If drugs are found in the parcel in buses or trains, concerned persons are liable to face action. Police already sensitised transport operators to scan and carry parcels,” he said, adding the drive would be intensified in coming days. “We are pursuing links, logistics, and networks of peddlers in different cities and states,” said Singal, adding his teams had busted a Mumbai-based drug mafia.
During the operation, police documented the offenders’ records, took photographs and fingerprints, and examined their mobile phones to investigate their connections. Their dossier forms were also filled up. This data would be entered into the SIMBA App, a new AI tool designed to improve law enforcement in Nagpur.
He emphasised the police’s commitment to continuing their crackdown on drug peddling as part of the broader campaign, which also includes educational activities aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. After imposition of a model code of conduct, Dr Singal informed that a drive against the anti-socials had been launched and weapons valued at Rs six lakh were confiscated from them.
