Operation Kavach 14.0: Delhi Police Arrests 255 in 48-Hour Anti-Drug Drive
New Delhi: In a concerted 48-hour anti-narcotics operation, Delhi Police arrested 255 drug offenders and registered 212 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The operation, named Operation Kavach 14.0, was conducted from June 22 to June 24 and coincided with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Officials said simultaneous raids were carried out at 4,035 locations across all 15 police districts, involving the Crime Branch, Special Cell, and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force. The drive was supervised by senior officers from these units.
According to police, the operation targeted both street-level peddlers and organised suppliers to dismantle drug trafficking networks. During the drive, authorities seized 237.4 kg of ganja, 5.18 kg of hydroponic cannabis, 1.09 kg of heroin, 159.8 grams of cocaine, 366.48 grams of charas, 101.1 grams of MDMA, 186 grams of methamphetamine, and 2,640 buprenorphine tablets. Cash amounting to ₹23.27 lakh was also recovered.
Since its launch in May 2023, Operation Kavach has been a periodic enforcement drive. Till May 31, 2026, Delhi Police had arrested 1,418 alleged offenders in 1,812 NDPS cases and seized over 1,653 kg of ganja and 23.3 kg of heroin. Senior officers noted that sustained enforcement has disrupted supply chains, forcing major traffickers to move storage outside Delhi and transport smaller consignments via cars and trains instead of trucks.
In addition to the anti-drug crackdown, police registered 398 cases under the Delhi Excise Act and arrested 405 persons. Another 4,498 people were booked for drinking in public places under Sections 40A and 40B of the Act. As part of preventive policing, 1,900 individuals were arrested under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), while 444 were taken into preventive custody.
The operation involved 1,474 police teams from all police stations and specialised units. The Delhi Lieutenant Governor has called for a 'Nasha Mukt' (drug-free) Delhi, aligning with the national focus on combating substance abuse.
