Ahead of New Year’s Eve, Mumbai cops on ‘high’ alert against peddlers

South, central and western Mumbai, which saw the most drug-related cases in 2015, will be the focus of anti-drug operations

The Mumbai police have begun combing operations to tackle the influx of party drugs into the city over Near Year’s. Officials from the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and the local police are keeping a close eye on drug peddlers and monitoring landing points and routes through which drugs are brought into the city.

“We have started combing operations and are taking drug dealers and peddlers into custody. Drug abuse in widespread at New Year’s parties in clubs and bars and we will be keeping an eye on the people who try to supply and consume them,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, Mumbai police spokesperson.

Kulkarni added that the ANC officials have started acting on tip-offs from their sources and will arrest peddlers and consumers accordingly.

South and central Mumbai saw rampant drug abuse in 2015, according to a comparative study of cases registered under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Mumbai.

According to the study, a copy of which is available with HT, 3862 people were arrested in 3,835 NDPS cases registered in south Mumbai in 2015.

Next was the central region, will include clubs and bars in Lower Parel and adjoining areas, where 3,799 cases were registered and 4,555 people arrested.

This was followed by the western parts of the city, including areas such as Bandra and Juhu, from where 3,686 people were arrested in NDPS cases in 2015.

According to the police, these regions will be the focus of anti-drug operations as they are home to the city’s most well-known bars and clubs.

Among other measures, plainclothes cops will posted in crowded areas here to keep an check on drug peddlers and buyers.