Pune: Maharashtra ANTF Registers 76 Cases, Arrests 127 in Drug Crackdown; Seizes Property Worth Rs 74 Crore
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 16th October 2026: Maharashtra’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) registered 76 cases and arrested around 127 accused between May 2025 and September 2026, seizing case property worth approximately Rs 74 crore.
Jyotipriya Singh (IPS), Special Inspector General of Police, ANTF, Maharashtra State, said the task force began operations in May 2025. Its seizures across various cases included cannabis, mephedrone (MD), methamphetamine and cocaine.
Highlighting an investigation in Baner, Singh said the initial arrest of three accused led investigators to uncover further links in the drug supply chain.
“One of the examples I would like to quote is a Baner case, in which earlier three accused were arrested,” she said, adding that tracing backward linkages and conducting technical investigations enabled the task force to bust what she described as an African drug cartel.
Outlining the ANTF’s structure, Singh said it comprises seven operational units aligned with police ranges. Superintendents of Police overseeing operations are based in Pune and Nagpur, while an SP handling administration is stationed at the Pune headquarters.
Singh also appealed to young people to stay away from drugs, cautioning against experimenting out of curiosity, peer pressure or a desire to follow trends. She urged students facing academic or career-related stress not to turn to substance use.
“Say no to drugs, yes to life,” she said.
Addressing parents, Singh stressed the importance of maintaining regular, friendly and sustained communication with their children. She urged them to avoid placing excessive pressure on children over academic performance and to foster a supportive home environment.
Singh also appealed to citizens to share information about suspected drug peddling through the task force’s contact number 7218000073 (WhatsApp for confidential tips). She assured informants that their identities would be kept confidential and that strict action would be taken against drug peddlers.
