Mumbai ANC seizes ₹2.53 crore drugs; 9,800 Nitrazepam, Alprazolam tablets recovered
Synopsis
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell pulled off a ₹2.53 crore overnight haul — 9,800 prescription sedative tablets allegedly being sold as street intoxicants in Govandi. The bust is part of an accelerating ANC crackdown that has now netted three separate operations in under two months, exposing a growing pipeline of diverted pharmaceuticals feeding Mumbai's illicit drug market.
Key Takeaways
The Anti-Narcotics Cell, Worli Unit seized 9,800 tablets worth ₹2.53 crore between 6–7 October 2026 in Govandi, Mumbai .
4,500 Nitrazepam (NITCOR-10) tablets valued at ₹1.98 crore and 5,300 Alprazolam (PROCALM-1) tablets valued at ₹55.92 lakh were recovered.
The case is registered under Section 22(C) of the NDPS Act .
The operation was supervised by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti , Joint CP (Crime) Anil Kumbhare , and Addl.
CP (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay .
The ANC has conducted at least three major operations since August 2026 , including a ₹10.01 crore charas bust at Bandra Terminus on 19 August .
The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Worli Unit of the Mumbai Police seized 9,800 Nitrazepam and Alprazolam tablets worth approximately ₹2.53 crore in an overnight operation targeting the illegal sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances. The drugs were recovered from a residence in Govandi, Mumbai, between 10:40 pm on 6 October and 12:40 am on 7 October 2026.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on intelligence gathered during an ongoing investigation into illicit drug networks in Mumbai, officers learned that a suspect was allegedly selling intoxicant tablets in the Dr Zakir Hussain Nagar area of Govandi. After verifying the tip-off, a police team searched the accused's residence and made the seizure.
The case has been registered under Section 22(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which covers the illegal possession and sale of psychotropic substances and carries stringent penalties.
What Was Seized
Officers recovered 4,500 Nitrazepam tablets of the NITCOR-10 brand, weighing approximately 2 kg 475 grams and valued at ₹1.98 crore. Additionally, 5,300 Alprazolam tablets of the PROCALM-1 brand, weighing roughly 689 grams and valued at ₹55.92 lakh, were also confiscated. Together, the haul amounts to ₹2.53 crore worth of prescription drugs allegedly diverted for illicit use.
Senior Officers Who Oversaw the Raid
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay, with oversight from senior ANC and Worli Unit officers.
Part of a Broader ANC Crackdown
This seizure is the latest in a series of anti-narcotics actions by the Mumbai ANC. On 2 October, the ANC raided The Smoke Shop at Bhoomi Tower, Sector 4, Kharghar — located barely 50 metres from ITM College — recovering hookah flavours and related material worth around ₹92,000. The operation was led by Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigade following complaints from local residents.
Earlier, on 19 August, the ANC had arrested a man from Bihar at Bandra Terminus for allegedly carrying 10.10 kg of charas with a market value of ₹10.01 crore. Notably, Nitrazepam and Alprazolam are prescription-only sedatives and anti-anxiety medications that are increasingly being diverted into illicit markets, according to enforcement agencies.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to trace the supply chain and determine the source of the diverted pharmaceutical tablets.
Point of View
Not scheduled narcotics in the conventional sense — points to a supply-chain failure in pharmaceutical distribution, not just a street-level enforcement problem. Three ANC operations in under two months suggest either a genuine crackdown surge or a pattern of activity that enforcement is only beginning to surface. The more pressing question is where these branded tablets originate: tracing the licensed pharmacy or distributor network that feeds the grey market would matter far more than individual arrests.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs were seized by Mumbai Police in the 7 October 2026 raid?
Mumbai's Anti-Narcotics Cell seized 4,500 Nitrazepam tablets (NITCOR-10 brand) and 5,300 Alprazolam tablets (PROCALM-1 brand) — a total of 9,800 tablets valued at approximately ₹2.53 crore. The drugs were recovered from a residence in the Dr Zakir Hussain Nagar area of Govandi.
What law has been invoked in the Mumbai drug seizure case?
The case has been registered under Section 22(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which covers offences related to the illegal possession, sale, and supply of psychotropic substances and carries stringent penalties.
Who supervised the Anti-Narcotics Cell operation in Govandi?
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare, and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay, with supervision from senior ANC and Worli Unit officers.
What other drug operations has the Mumbai ANC carried out recently?
The ANC raided The Smoke Shop near ITM College in Kharghar on 2 October, seizing hookah material worth around ₹92,000. Before that, on 19 August, the ANC arrested a man from Bihar at Bandra Terminus for allegedly carrying 10.10 kg of charas valued at ₹10.01 crore.
What are Nitrazepam and Alprazolam, and why are they regulated?
Nitrazepam and Alprazolam are prescription-only pharmaceutical drugs — a sedative and an anti-anxiety medication respectively — that are regulated under the NDPS Act when diverted for non-medical, intoxicant use. Their illegal sale without a valid prescription is a cognisable offence in India.
