Bengaluru Police Seize Drugs Worth ₹55.8 Crore, Arrest 39 in Citywide Crackdown
The Bengaluru city police have seized narcotics valued at ₹55.80 crore and arrested 39 drug peddlers in a coordinated crackdown across multiple police station limits. Among those arrested are eight foreign nationals, 21 individuals from other states, and 10 local residents, according to official statements released on Wednesday.
Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the accused were allegedly procuring banned substances at low prices from foreign, inter-state, and unidentified suppliers, and selling them at inflated rates to the public, including college students. The operation, carried out over recent weeks, targeted networks operating within the city.
The seized contraband includes 21.641 kg of MDMA, 738 g of cocaine, 4.493 kg of hydroponic weed, 184.625 kg of weed, 1.065 kg of opium, and 25 g of mephedrone. In addition, police recovered 22 mobile phones, five two-wheelers, and ₹17 lakh in cash from the accused.
All 39 accused were produced before courts on different dates and have been remanded to judicial custody. Commissioner Singh said investigations are ongoing to trace unidentified suppliers who allegedly provided the drugs to the arrested individuals.
Among the prominent cases, the Girinagar police arrested Demba Jouma Francis, a French national, and seized 4.378 kg of MDMA valued at approximately ₹10.36 crore. According to police, Francis had established contact with African drug suppliers in Delhi, procured the drugs at low cost, and transported them to Bengaluru. He was allegedly staying in a rented house in Shivakote, Yelahanka, and selling the drugs locally.
In another major seizure, the Amruthahalli police recovered 14.436 kg of MDMA, valued at roughly ₹28.88 crore. The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested four persons, including foreign nationals, in three separate cases, seizing drugs worth approximately ₹8.88 crore. This included 738 g of cocaine, 336 g of MDMA, and 82.305 kg of ganja, along with two two-wheelers and three mobile phones.
Authorities at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) also reported success, seizing 4.278 kg of hydro ganja valued at around ₹3 crore across three cases. The Yeshwanthpur police recovered 650 g of MDMA and 41.446 kg of ganja, worth approximately ₹1.71 crore, along with a two-wheeler and three mobile phones. The Yelahanka police seized 794 g of MDMA, valued at around ₹1.59 crore, along with two mobile phones.
The police have emphasised their commitment to curbing drug trafficking in the city, particularly targeting networks that prey on young people. Further investigations are underway to dismantle the broader supply chains operating across state and international borders.
