Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police have arrested 39 people, including eight foreign nationals, and seized narcotic substances and other items worth Rs 28.07 crore in a major crackdown on drug trafficking under the ‘Beda Bro’ campaign.
The operations were conducted as part of Mission RISE and the city police’s ongoing campaign against drugs. RISE stands for Refuse, Inform, Support and Empower and focuses on community participation and awareness against narcotic substances.
The ‘Beda Bro’ initiative specifically targets Gen Z youth by creating awareness about the physical, psychological, social and legal consequences of drug addiction and encouraging them to resist peer pressure.
Drugs Worth Rs 28 Crore Seized
According to Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, the operations were launched after police received credible information about the sale and distribution of narcotic substances in different parts of the city.
Teams from 16 police stations and the CCB Anti-Narcotics Wing conducted raids across Bengaluru.
Police seized 21 kg 641 grams of MDMA, 738 grams of cocaine, 4 kg 493 grams of hydro ganja, 184 kg 625 grams of ganja, 1 kg 65 grams of opium and 25 grams of morphine.
The seized drugs and other items were valued at Rs 28.07 crore, while their estimated market value was put at Rs 55.80 crore.
Police also recovered Rs 17 lakh in cash, 22 mobile phones and five two-wheelers allegedly used in the drug trade.
Eight Foreign Nationals Among 39 Arrested
Of the 39 people arrested, eight are foreign nationals, 21 are from other states and 10 are local residents, police said.
The operations covered the jurisdictions of Amruthahalli, Girinagar, Kempegowda International Airport, Yeshwanthpur, Yelahanka, Hebbal, Nandini Layout, Kadugodi, Malleswaram, Govindapura, Bagaluru, Mahadevapura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Begur and Kothanur police stations.
Cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act based on information received from police informants.
During the investigation, raids were conducted at locations identified by the police, leading to the arrests.
Police Hunt for Drug Suppliers
During interrogation, the accused allegedly told investigators that they purchased narcotic substances at low prices from unidentified suppliers in foreign countries, other states and Karnataka.
They allegedly sold the drugs at higher prices to members of the public and college students to make quick profits.
Police said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the alleged suppliers who provided the narcotic substances to the accused.
“The investigations are in progress, and efforts are continuing to trace and apprehend the unidentified persons who were supplying the prohibited narcotic substances to the accused,” police said.
The 39 accused were produced before courts on different dates and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
The Bengaluru Police said the crackdown is part of their continued efforts under Mission RISE and the ‘Beda Bro’ campaign to curb the circulation and sale of narcotic substances in the city.