Mumbai: In a year long systematic crackdown on drug supply in Navi Mumbai and Panvel, police have successfully seized nearly 600 kilograms of cannabis in 2018, revealed a police report. Areas like Panvel, Uran, Palm Beach Road have become infamous for their drug deals during the weekends. However, to curb the problem, Navi Mumbai police began a daily drive to free the city of the drug peddlers.
According to the police sources, the seized cannabis are of worth Rs 6 crore and around 3 kilograms of Charas worth Rs 3 lakh. The Anti Narcotic Cell of Navi Mumbai police was launched in 2015 after several cases of narcotics were reported in the city. In last three years, police apprehended more than 50 drug peddlers, 14 in 2018 alone, said a police official. This police drive against the narcotic problem has proven to be a saviour for the youths of Navi Mumbai.
The Navi Mumbai crime branch have also contributed in apprehending around 50 drug dealers who were active in areas like APMC market, Turbhe, MIDC colony, Nerul, CBD Belapur. The action was taken after many residents complained of suspicious youths wandering the streets of Navi Mumbai in dark to sell drugs.
Similarly, police have been trying to infiltrate the drug pockets in the vicinity, to get a hold of all the drug peddlers. Police are also conducting raids on the rave parties held at Airoli, Turbhe and Palm Beach Road, where police have seized cannabis, charas, mephedrone and hookah, which was mainly served to minors.