Weapons, drugs trade flourish amid crackdowns in Gurugram

In 2024, Gurugram faced a rise in drug, weapon, and liquor crimes, with police arresting 336 for firearms and seizing large quantities of drugs and illegal liquor.

Updated on: Dec 31, 2024, 22:51:49 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Illegal activities involving drugs, weapons, and illicit liquor thrived in Gurugram throughout 2024, police data revealed, despite increased vigilance and stringent measures by law enforcement.

The illegal drug trade also expanded, with the police arresting 378 suspects under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in 270 cases. (File Photo)

In a year marked by a surge in criminal activities, Gurugram Police apprehended 336 people with 240 illegal firearms — including 204 country-made pistols.

“Illegal arms suppliers remain a significant challenge,” said assistant commissioner of police (crime) Varun Dahiya. “We continue to intensify our efforts to dismantle their networks.”

The illegal drug trade also expanded, with the police arresting 378 suspects under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in 270 cases. Authorities seized 1,838 kg of marijuana, 52 kg of charas, 613g of heroin, 505g of smack, 35g of cocaine, and various other banned substances, including 16,416 capsules and 300 kg of other contraband.

“The scale of the drug operations we have uncovered is alarming,” said Dahiya. “Our teams are focused on breaking the supply chains.”

Illicit liquor smuggling also surged, with 2,093 individuals arrested and 140,999 bottles of illegal liquor seized. Additionally, 3,250 litres of raw liquor were confiscated. Gambling and betting operations led to the arrest of 615 accused, with ₹12.45 lakh recovered in cash.

Prostitution rings disguised as spa centres continued to operate in Gurugram, resulting in the arrest of 24 individuals in eight cases under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act.

Gurugram Police maintained that their efforts have significantly disrupted criminal activities. “In 2024, we achieved considerable success in apprehending those who violated local and special laws,” said Dahiya. “However, the persistence of these crimes highlights the need for sustained action and community involvement.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More