Thane, March 2 Narcotics worth Rs 18.63 crore were destroyed on Monday as part of the 'Nasha Mukt (Drug Free) Navi Mumbai' campaign, a senior police official said.
Drugs worth Rs 18.63 crore seized in 55 cases were destroyed at the Mumbai Waste Management Company in Taloja, Panvel, after completing the necessary legal procedures, he added.
"The drugs were destroyed in the presence of police commissioner Milind Bharambe and others. Under the Drug Free Navi Mumbai campaign, drugs worth Rs 38.45 crore were seized in 114 cases until September 26, 2025. Of this, drugs worth Rs 18.63 crore were destroyed today," the Crime Branch official said.
In a recent major crackdown, a gang that had come from Punjab and was operating out of hotels and lodges here to sell heroin and opium through trucks and railways was busted, the official said.
"Six cases were registered in this connection, and 33 persons were arrested. Narcotics, including heroin, opium, mephedrone, and codeine bottles, collectively worth Rs 4.20 crore, were seized. The alleged mastermind, identified as Sahibsingh Joginder Singh alias Saba, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab, was arrested from there," he said.
To strengthen enforcement at the local level, separate Anti-Narcotics Squads (ANS) have been set up at every police station under the commissionerate, which focus on intelligence gathering, strengthening informant networks, regular inspections and patrolling in schools, colleges, hotels, lodges, pubs, bars, and other sensitive areas, the official said.