Ahead of the festive season, Delhi Police have seized more than 2.5 tonnes (2,500 kgs) of illegal firecrackers in two separate operations, arresting five persons, officials said on Thursday.
The police have intensified efforts to restrict the sale and supply of illegal firecrackers and to trace the networks operating in the Capital.
In the first operation, the Crime Branch recovered 2,260 kg of firecrackers from two commercial vehicles near Carnival Resort in Alipur on October 13. Four men were arrested, and 87 parcels containing different varieties of firecrackers were seized.The consignments were procured from Rakesh Sood & Sons in Kurali, Punjab, for delivery to recipients in Delhi. One truck carried 1,350 kg, while the second vehicle contained 910 kg.
The arrested persons include drivers Lovekush (24) and Chandan Kumar Bhagat (35), and helpers Vikas (18) and Raja Yadav (19).
“During interrogation, the drivers revealed that one consignment had been loaded by a person identified as Sandeep Bansal and the other by Rahul, both intended for delivery at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar,” a senior police officer said.
A case was registered under Sections 223(b) and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 9B of the Explosives Act.
In another operation in Bhalswa Dairy, police seized 338.5 kg of firecrackers and arrested Rahul (29). On October 13, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad intercepted him near Yadav Chowk and recovered three boxes from a plastic sack. A subsequent search of his residence recovered additional firecrackers.
Investigations are under way to identify suppliers, trace distribution networks and establish the involvement of other individuals, officials said.
Published - October 16, 2026 12:41 am IST