Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 17: Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra, on Tuesday announced a strict “Zero Tolerance” policy against narcotics following a recent crackdown on drug trafficking in the Motibag area of Nagpur.
Speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the chief minister said the government will take stringent action against those involved in drug-related crimes, including seizing properties belonging to accused traffickers.
The discussion was initiated by MLA Pravin Datke, who raised the issue of recent police raids in Motibag. During the operations, authorities recovered stocks of marijuana and firearms from the houses of suspected traffickers. Legislators Vikas Thakre, Vikram Pachpute, and Nitin Raut also participated in the debate.
Fadnavis informed the House that cases have been registered under several provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act 1999 (MCOCA). The process of filing chargesheets is currently underway, after which authorities will initiate legal proceedings to confiscate properties belonging to those accused.
He also stated that if any illegal constructions linked to the accused are found, the local municipal corporation will take action by issuing notices in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India.
The Chief Minister said special enforcement drives will be conducted in sensitive areas to curb drug trafficking. He warned that police officers responsible for such areas will be held accountable if similar incidents occur again.
Fadnavis further highlighted the success of “Operation Thunder,” under which the Nagpur Police have detected 907 drug-related offences in the past 11 months. During the operation, authorities seized around 1,254 kilograms of narcotics valued at nearly Rs 10 crore.
To strengthen anti-drug enforcement, the government established the Anti-Narcotics Task Force Maharashtra (ANTF) on August 31, 2023. The initiative has since been expanded across all police stations in the state, with additional posts created to improve coordination and enforcement.
According to the Chief Minister, authorities are now focusing not only on registering cases but also on identifying both “forward and backward links” in the drug supply chain to dismantle entire networks. Intelligence sharing with the Central Government and other states has also helped authorities take action against interstate and international trafficking networks.
Fadnavis added that any police personnel found to be directly or indirectly involved in drug-related crimes will face immediate dismissal from service rather than mere suspension.
Addressing another concern, the Chief Minister said the government is worried about the growing use of minors in drug trafficking networks. He informed the Assembly that a proposal will be sent to the Central Government to reduce the legal age for prosecution in such offences from 18 to 16 years.