Is Gujarat Ready to Destroy Narcotics Worth Rs 870 Crore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The state is set to incinerate narcotics worth over Rs 870 crore.
- Operation aims to combat drug trafficking effectively.
- Involvement of state and local authorities ensures transparency.
- High-temperature incineration process will be used.
- Significant drug seizures highlight ongoing challenges.
Ahmedabad, July 23 (NationPress) Gujarat's Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, will supervise the scientific disposal process of a significant amount of narcotics valued at over Rs 870 crore in the Kutch district on July 24.
The disposal initiative, orchestrated by the State-Level Narcotics Disposal Committee, aligns with the government's persistent efforts against drug trafficking.
The destruction of seized substances will occur at Saurashtra Enviro Projects Pvt. Ltd. in Lakadia, Bhachau taluka, utilizing a high-temperature incineration method.
The drugs, seized under the NDPS Act, span across 28 cases in East Kutch (Gandhidham), West Kutch (Bhuj), and Morbi. Among the most significant confiscations is 82.616 kg of cocaine seized by the Gandhidham B Division Police, valued at approximately Rs 826.16 crore.
Additionally, around 105.428 kg of hashish from Mandvi Police Station, estimated at Rs 44.57 crore, and 8,986.2 litres of codeine-based cough syrup (equivalent to 89,862 bottles) from Morbi Taluka Police Station, worth nearly Rs 1.84 crore, will be destroyed.
Furthermore, 129.368 kg of various narcotics, including ganja, cocaine, charas, and mephedrone, from West Kutch, and 74.213 kg of similar substances from East Kutch will be incinerated, summing up to a total of 391.625 kg of drugs and 8,986.2 litres.
This coordinated disposal operation follows court approvals and will be conducted under the oversight of both state and local drug disposal committees, accompanied by senior police officials and representatives from environmental agencies.
In a maritime operation in April 2025, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard recovered over 300 kg of suspected methamphetamine, estimated at around Rs 1,800 crore, after smugglers attempted to discard the shipment into the Arabian Sea near the International Maritime Boundary Line.
Earlier in January, the ATS discovered an illegal manufacturing facility in Neja village (Anand district), seizing 107 kg of alprazolam (worth Rs 107 crore) alongside 1,518 kg of precursor chemicals.
Most recently, in July, authorities intercepted 85 kg of hybrid cannabis in the state, a notable rise from the 22.3 kg seized in 2024, as part of a national crackdown, resulting in 77 arrests across India in 56 cases.