Guwahati, Oct 13: Assam has intensified its crackdown on drug-related activities, with police apprehending 47 persons in Dhubri district and booking 12 in Darrang ahead of the festive season.
In Dhubri, the police apprehended 47 persons across eight police station areas as part of an intensified drive against suspected drug-related activities.
The operations were carried out under the jurisdictions of Dhubri, Gauripur, Bilasipara, Fakirganj, Chapar, Sapatgram, Tamarhat and Golakganj police stations.
Gauripur accounted for the highest number of apprehensions at 13, followed by Dhubri with 11, Bilasipara with eight, Golakganj with six and Chapar with four.
Two persons each were apprehended in Fakirganj and Tamarhat, while one person was apprehended in Sapatgram.
The drive comes amid the State government's continued emphasis on tackling the drug menace under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's anti-drugs initiative.
Police sources said the operations were expected to continue in the coming days, with further raids and more arrests anticipated as verification and investigation progress.
Sources also indicated that some of those apprehended were allegedly repeat offenders with previous involvement in drug-related cases.
The district police is focusing on identifying suspected drug peddlers and disrupting the circulation of illicit substances. However, details regarding the specific allegations against those apprehended, the substances seized, if any, and the status of individual cases were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, Darrang police have stepped up anti-drug operations across vulnerable locations under six police station areas, alongside public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing the trafficking and sale of narcotics and other contraband substances during the festive season.
Informing the press about the ongoing drive, Darrang Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarmistha Baruah said nine cases had been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 12 persons had been booked.
“So far, we have registered nine cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and 12 persons were booked,” Baruah said.
During the raids, police seized contraband substances with an estimated market value of Rs 97.83 lakh. The haul included 443.1 grams of suspected heroin, 17.193 kg of suspected ganja, 900 psychotropic Nitrazepam tablets and 25 bottles of codeine phosphate-based cough syrup.
The Darrang police have also placed around 24 other suspected drug peddlers under surveillance as part of efforts to dismantle the wider network. In a move to target the financial assets allegedly linked to drug-related activities, authorities have identified properties and assets worth approximately Rs 38.70 lakh for freezing under the statutory provisions of the NDPS Act.
Alongside the anti-narcotics drive, the district police have taken action against violations of tobacco regulations. Enforcement teams collected Rs 4,200 in fines under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) during the operations.
Police officials said strict surveillance, raids and anti-drug enforcement activities would continue across Darrang throughout the festive period as authorities seek to curb the trafficking and sale of narcotics.