In a sweeping 24-hour operation spanning all 15 districts of the capital, Delhi Police executed one of its largest coordinated crackdowns on narcotics and organized crime under the banner of Operation Kavach 9.0. Beginning at 5 p.m. on August 9 and concluding at the same time the following day, over 360 police teams targeted nearly 800 identified locations, resulting in hundreds of arrests, multiple seizures, and the disruption of criminal networks.
Widespread Raids, Major Seizures
The synchronized raids led to the arrest of 92 individuals in 87 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Officers recovered 307 grams of heroin, more than 33 kilograms of cannabis, 67 grams of hybrid cannabis, 610 grams of charas, 22.25 grams of MDMA, 2.26 grams of LSD, and ₹12.17 lakh in cash.
The crackdown also extended to violations of the Delhi Excise Act, with 275 cases registered and 279 suspects arrested. Police seized 50,060 quarters of illicit liquor, 141 liquor bottles, and 73 beer bottles. Additionally, 1,183 people were detained under Sections 40A and 40B of the Act.
Under the Arms Act, 65 individuals were apprehended in 61 cases, with the recovery of four semi-automatic pistols, nine country-made firearms, nine live cartridges, and 41 knives. Gambling operations were also disrupted, with 83 people arrested and ₹1,19,840 in cash seized in 48 cases.
The operation further netted nine auto-lifters with stolen vehicles, 10 proclaimed offenders, and 1,685 vehicles impounded under Section 66 of the Delhi Police Act.
Preventive Measures and Public Safety Actions
Preventive action formed a significant part of the operation. Authorities arrested 275 individuals under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to avert potential crimes. Over 1,800 individuals were taken into preventive custody, while 12,834 were detained under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act.
To curb the sale of tobacco products, 2,968 violators were prosecuted under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), and 17 e-cigarettes were seized from a central Delhi shop.
Strategic Push Against the Drug Trade
Under the guidance of Commissioner of Police S.B.K. Singh, the initiative reflects the central government’s “zero tolerance” policy toward narcotics, as emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Launched in May 2023, Operation Kavach targets both street-level peddlers and high-level traffickers, employing a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach to dismantle entire networks.
So far, nine iterations of the operation have been conducted, with thousands of offenders arrested and large quantities of drugs confiscated. Between January and July 2025 alone, Delhi Police arrested 1,784 narco-offenders and recovered nearly 45 kilograms of heroin, 3,770 kilograms of cannabis, 250 kilograms of opium, and other drugs.
Key Arrests in Kavach 9.0
Several significant arrests marked this latest phase.
- Heroin Haul in Nand Nagari: Acting on a tip-off, the Cyber Cell apprehended Surender Pandey, alias Kallu, recovering 301 grams of high-grade heroin.
- Ganja and Cash in Sangam Vihar: NDR Crime Branch officers arrested two suspects with nearly six kilograms of ganja, 67 grams of hybrid cannabis, 106 grams of charas, and ₹12.09 lakh in cash.
- Local Peddler Caught in Patparganj: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force nabbed Chand Babu with 311 grams of ganja packaged in 80 pouches and ₹8,819 in cash.
- E-Cigarette Bust in Central Delhi: ISC Section officers seized 17 imported e-cigarettes from a shop on New Rohtak Road, detaining multiple employees and the shop owner.
- Youth Arrested in South Delhi: The Narcotics Squad apprehended 21-year-old Khushal with nearly five kilograms of ganja.
- Charas Seizure in Malviya Nagar: Special Staff officers caught Dhansukh Parihar with 500 grams of high-quality charas.
- Mixed Drug Recovery After Accident: In Chanakyapuri, police responding to a vehicle accident found multiple drugs—including cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ganja, charas—and ₹25,000 cash inside a Mahindra Thar.
Impact on Criminal Networks
Authorities report that repeated surprise raids have instilled fear among traffickers, forcing many to go underground or move storage facilities outside Delhi. Large-scale ganja consignments, once transported in trucks, are now sent in smaller quantities using cars, light motor vehicles, and trains. Traffickers have even resorted to using women and children as decoys to evade detection.
One notable example of the operation’s deterrent effect was the bust of a Nigerian drug ring by Noida Police, linked to networks disrupted in Delhi.
Call for Public Involvement
While the focus remains on cutting off supply, Delhi Police has appealed to families, educators, NGOs, and social workers to help reduce demand by educating youth on the dangers of drug abuse.
“All sections of society must unite to protect the younger generation from this deadly menace,” a police spokesperson said, noting that awareness campaigns are as essential as enforcement.
Supervision and Coordination
The large-scale operation was closely monitored by senior officers, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Surender Singh, Additional CP Mangesh Kashyap, and DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force. Joint and Additional Commissioners, along with district and unit heads, personally oversaw field teams during the raids.
With the conclusion of Operation Kavach 9.0, Delhi Police has reaffirmed its commitment to sustained, high-intensity action against drug traffickers and organized crime, aiming to create a safer environment for the city’s residents as Independence Day approaches.
