Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, on Tuesday, 23 June announced a sweeping institutional overhaul targeting the financial and operational networks of the state's narco-mafia, reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking. The announcement came during Question Hour in the state Assembly in Mumbai.

MCOCA Invoked Against Drug Syndicates

Fadnavis cited the recent arrest of transnational drug lord Mohammad Salim Dola, alias Salim Ismail Dola, to justify the state's decision to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against narcotics syndicates. Responding to Opposition criticism over applying an anti-organised crime law to drug cases, he argued that provisions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act often allow cartel leaders to exploit legal loopholes, secure bail, and continue operations through proxies.

'Drug trafficking is no longer a localised petty crime or simple possession case; it is a highly organised, heavily structured financial syndicate that behaves exactly like an underworld mafia,' Fadnavis said.

Key Structural Reforms Announced

The Chief Minister said the anti-narcotics effort requires coordinated action across multiple departments rather than isolated police interventions. Among the reforms announced:

Specialised anti-drug cells and expanded testing facilities will be integrated into police stations across urban and rural Maharashtra. Municipal corporations and local police have been directed to clear unauthorised shops, kiosks, and illegal structures within a 100-metre radius of schools and colleges. The Cyber Department will monitor encrypted messaging platforms and social media channels used for drug distribution. The Education and Social Justice Departments will run awareness programmes across 3,000 campuses. A citizen reward scheme with guaranteed anonymity has also been launched for credible tip-offs on drug networks. Additionally, a high-level committee will spearhead the 'Drug-Free Mumbai' campaign.

Enforcement Numbers: January–April 2026

Fadnavis disclosed that between January and April 2026, Maharashtra registered 1,142 cases involving commercial quantities of narcotics, leading to the arrest of 1,626 accused persons. Drugs worth ₹254.53 crore were seized, and 3,199 drug-consumption cases were also registered during the period. All seven units of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) are operating at full capacity across the state. In 2025, the ANTF and local police destroyed seized narcotics valued at ₹523.17 crore.

Opposition Alleges Police Complicity

Jayant Patil of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) alleged that extortion and bribery by some police personnel were shielding drug syndicates, and called for Maharashtra Police teams to be deployed at major inter-state ports handling narcotics consignments. Jitendra Awhad of the NCP (SP) contended that large-scale drug operations could not function without institutional support. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu said drug peddling had spread to local neighbourhoods despite repeated resident complaints.

Fadnavis defended the force while acknowledging the need for accountability. 'Any police officer or constable found guilty of colluding with drug traffickers is being dismissed from service. We have zero tolerance for black sheep within the department,' he said, specifying that errant personnel would face dismissal rather than suspension.

What Comes Next

The high-level 'Drug-Free Mumbai' committee is expected to begin oversight operations imminently, while the 3,000-campus awareness drive and cyber-monitoring of encrypted drug-distribution channels are set to roll out in parallel. Whether the MCOCA framework withstands legal challenges from cartel-linked defence teams will be a critical test of the strategy's durability.