The Rajasthan Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted three simultaneous operations on Raksha Bandhan, 28 August, seizing 5.4 kg of MD (methamphetamine) valued at ₹1.62 crore in the international market and arresting two wanted criminals — including a suspected narcotics kingpin carrying a ₹1 lakh police reward. The operations spanned Nagaur, Jaipur, and Jodhpur, underscoring the ANTF's push to dismantle interstate drug networks even during a public holiday.

The Nagaur Drug Haul

In Nagaur, ANTF personnel intercepted a TUV-300 vehicle near Devnarayan Bagichi in Dugauli village under the Jayal police station limits. A search of the vehicle uncovered 5.4 kg of MD concealed in five green packets hidden beneath the front passenger seat. The contraband was allegedly being transported to Jaipur by a juvenile. A mobile phone recovered from the vehicle reportedly showed transactions worth ₹16 lakh, and investigators are now tracing the supplier and distribution network behind the consignment.

Wanted Fugitive Nabbed in Jaipur

In Jaipur, the ANTF arrested Sandeep Raj Sharma, a wanted accused carrying a ₹25,000 police reward, who had been absconding for nearly a year. Sharma had allegedly opened fire at police during a raid in Nandan Vihar Colony in June 2025 and subsequently evaded law enforcement by frequently shifting locations across Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur, and Dausa. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly planning to meet other smugglers wanted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A total of 11 criminal cases are registered against him.

Kingpin with ₹1 Lakh Reward Arrested in Jodhpur

The most significant arrest came in Jodhpur, where the ANTF nabbed Shyam Sundar, also known as Sanwararam or Sanwariya, under Operation Vanshidhar 2.0. Sundar, who carried a ₹1 lakh reward, is described by police as a suspected narcotics kingpin with nearly 15 years of involvement in drug smuggling and 15 criminal cases to his name — including charges under the NDPS Act, assault, theft, and attempted murder. Investigators allege he organised consignments of 30–60 kg of narcotics sourced from Manipur and Mizoram, routed through Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan using second-hand vehicles. He had evaded arrest on three previous occasions before being tracked for nearly 10 months and finally apprehended in Jodhpur.

ANTF's Growing Record

Inspector General of Police (ANTF) Vikas Kumar said the operations were conducted under the guidance of Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma and Additional Director General of Police Dinesh MN. He noted that ANTF personnel remained on active duty through the festival. Since its formation 10 months ago, the task force has now seized a cumulative 196.76 kg of MD — a figure that reflects both the scale of the problem and the force's operational tempo. Further investigation is underway to identify suppliers, transporters, financiers, and other associates linked to the networks.

The ANTF described Shyam Sundar's arrest as a breakthrough in dismantling interstate narcotics supply chains connecting northeast India to Rajasthan.