Gujarat Police has significantly widened its anti-narcotics enforcement framework, directing every police station across the state to independently detect, register, and investigate offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The directive follows a high-level review meeting held in Gandhinagar on 17 June, chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik, marking a structural shift in how Gujarat tackles drug-related crime at the grassroots level.

Key Directives from the DGP Review

DGP Malik instructed all units to adopt a proactive enforcement posture and pursue strict action in every NDPS case — including those involving small quantities of narcotic substances. 'The fight against drugs requires consistent vigilance and decisive action at every level. All units must act proactively and ensure strict enforcement under the NDPS Act,' he said, directing officers to maintain continuous surveillance over drug traffickers and peddlers.

He further called for sustained intelligence-based operations aimed at dismantling distribution networks and curbing the spread of narcotics across the state.

Expanding Responsibility Beyond Specialised Units

A significant administrative change announced at the meeting extends NDPS enforcement responsibility beyond specialised agencies such as the Crime Branch and the Special Operations Group (SOG). All local police stations have now been tasked with directly detecting, intercepting, and registering drug-related offences within their jurisdictions, making anti-drug enforcement a core function at the station level.

Notably, accountability will be fixed in cases where NDPS offences within a station's jurisdiction are registered by external agencies — responsibility will be determined at the level of the concerned officers. This is a pointed administrative accountability measure designed to prevent enforcement gaps.

Operational Strategy and Supply Chain Focus

As part of the operational rollout, police personnel have been directed to conduct detailed interrogations of arrested individuals to trace supply chains, identify suppliers, and expose larger trafficking networks. Strict legal action will be pursued against all those involved in the sale, distribution, and transportation of narcotic substances.

The state police leadership has also approved a rewards-and-recognition system for personnel who demonstrate effective performance in detecting and investigating NDPS cases, with the objective of strengthening enforcement outcomes across all districts.

Government's Zero-Tolerance Stance

Reiterating the state's policy position, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said: 'Gujarat continues to follow a zero-tolerance policy towards drug-related offences and remains committed to strict action against both trafficking and abuse of narcotic substances.'

Alongside enforcement, Gujarat Police will also extend support for counselling and rehabilitation services for individuals affected by drug addiction — complementing punitive action with recovery-focused interventions. This comes amid a broader national push to address the demand side of the drug problem, not just supply interdiction.

What Comes Next

With accountability mechanisms now in place at the station level and a formal incentive structure for enforcement personnel, the Gujarat model could serve as a template for other states grappling with rising NDPS caseloads. Implementation across all districts and the pace of supply-chain prosecutions will be the key metrics to watch in the months ahead.