Gujarat Police seize ₹22.31 lakh assets from Kutch drug trafficker under SAFEMA
Synopsis
Gujarat Police have used a rarely invoked 1976 law to strip a repeat drug offender of his home and three vehicles in Kutch — the state's first SAFEMA-based narcotics forfeiture in three years. The move marks a deliberate pivot: instead of just arresting traffickers, authorities are now going after the financial assets that sustain the trade.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police confiscated assets worth ₹22.31 lakh from drug trafficker Pintu Vedanand alias Bedanand Yadav in Kutch .
This is Gujarat's first successful SAFEMA -based property forfeiture in a narcotics case in three years .
Confiscated assets include a house valued at ₹15 lakh and three vehicles .
The operation was led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of East Kutch Police under IGP Chirag Kordiya and SP Sagar Bagmar .
The initiative was launched under directions from Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi and DGP G.S.
Authorities are pursuing similar asset-forfeiture cases against other drug network members across Gujarat.
Gujarat Police have confiscated assets worth ₹22.31 lakh allegedly acquired through drug trafficking proceeds in Kutch, marking the state's first successful property forfeiture under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) in a narcotics case in the past three years. The action, executed by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the East Kutch Police, signals a strategic shift from arresting offenders to dismantling their financial networks.
Background and Legal Framework
Authorities invoked provisions of the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976, in conjunction with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, to pursue the forfeiture. The case was submitted to the SAFEMA Competent Authority in Mumbai, which subsequently issued the forfeiture order. This approach targets the financial infrastructure sustaining the illegal drug trade — not merely the contraband or the accused.
The Accused and Confiscated Assets
The forfeited property is linked to Pintu Vedanand alias Bedanand Yadav, described by police as a repeat offender who had previously been arrested three to four times in Gandhidham in connection with drug trafficking. Investigators alleged that Yadav had acquired assets in his own name and in the name of his wife using proceeds from the narcotics trade. The confiscated assets comprise a house valued at ₹15 lakh and three vehicles, bringing the total forfeited value to ₹22.31 lakh.
Who Led the Operation
The SOG operated under the guidance of Border Range Bhuj-Kutch Inspector General of Police Chirag Kordiya and the supervision of East Kutch Gandhidham Superintendent of Police Sagar Bagmar. The broader initiative was launched under the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik, as part of a state-wide push to identify and confiscate movable and immovable assets created from drug proceeds.
Significance of the Action
This is notably the first SAFEMA-based property forfeiture in a narcotics case in Gujarat in three years, making it a significant procedural milestone. Authorities said they are actively identifying additional assets linked to drug networks and pursuing confiscation through legal channels. Officials noted that the operation 'reflected its approach of targeting not only those accused of drug offences but also the assets created through the proceeds of such crimes.'
What Comes Next
The Gujarat Police have indicated that similar asset-forfeiture proceedings are being pursued against other individuals identified in drug trafficking investigations across the state. The strategy of financial disruption, rather than enforcement alone, is expected to intensify as police build more SAFEMA cases in the pipeline.
Point of View
But the gap itself raises questions. The law has existed since 1976, and the NDPS Act has long permitted financial pursuit of drug offenders — yet convictions and forfeitures of this kind remain rare. One successful forfeiture worth ₹22.31 lakh against a repeat offender is a procedural win, but it is a modest one relative to the scale of drug trafficking networks in border districts like Kutch. The real test of this 'financial disruption' strategy will be whether it produces a sustained pipeline of SAFEMA cases or remains a headline-generating exception.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SAFEMA and why was it invoked in this case?
SAFEMA — the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 — allows authorities to confiscate assets acquired through smuggling or related illegal activity. It was invoked here alongside the NDPS Act to forfeit property allegedly purchased using drug trafficking proceeds, targeting the financial base of the accused rather than just the narcotics.
Who is Pintu Vedanand alias Bedanand Yadav?
He is the accused drug trafficker whose assets were forfeited. Police described him as a repeat offender who had been arrested three to four times previously in Gandhidham in connection with drug trafficking cases. Authorities allege he acquired a house and vehicles using narcotics proceeds, including assets registered in his wife's name.
What assets were seized from the drug trafficker in Kutch?
The confiscated assets comprise a house valued at ₹15 lakh and three vehicles, bringing the total forfeited value to ₹22.31 lakh. The forfeiture order was issued by the SAFEMA Competent Authority in Mumbai following a case prepared by the East Kutch SOG.
Why is this forfeiture significant for Gujarat?
It is the state's first successful SAFEMA-based property forfeiture in a narcotics case in three years, making it a notable procedural milestone. It also signals a broader enforcement shift — from arresting traffickers to dismantling the financial networks that sustain the drug trade.
Who ordered and supervised the operation?
The operation was launched under the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and DGP G.S. Malik. It was executed by the SOG of East Kutch Police under the guidance of IGP Chirag Kordiya and supervised by SP Sagar Bagmar.
