India’s Zero Tolerance Policy Against Drugs: 29 Traffickers Convicted Across 12 Cases

In a post on the X platform, Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government pledges to continue combating the drug menace with ruthless and meticulous investigations to build a drug-free Bharat.

Home Minister said that as a result of a foolproof investigation with a bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom strategy, 29 drug traffickers have been convicted by the court in 12 different cases across India.

This success is a testament to the ‘Bottom to Top’ and ‘Top to Bottom’ approach adopted under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. In pursuit of the Modi government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has achieved this significant success.

The details of 12 cases are:

Ahmedabad Zone

1.     On 27.07.2019, NCB Ahmedabad Zonal Unit seized 23.859 Kg of Charas at Sabarmati Railway Station, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from the possession of Mohd. Rizwan and Mohd. Jishan and a case was registered vide NCB Ahmedabad Crime No 05/201,9 and above mentioned two persons were arrested. During the course of the investigation, one Sahidul Rehman was arrested. After the completion of the investigation, a complaint was filed against the above three persons under the NDPS Act before the learned Judge at City Civil and Sessions Court Ahmedabad. After the completion of the trial of the case, the judgment was pronounced by the Court on 29.01.2025, and all the 03 accused persons were convicted for Rigorous Imprisonment for 14 years and a fine of Rs. 01 lakh each.

Bhopal Zone (Mandsaur)

2.     In July 2022, NCB Mandsaur intercepted a Harrier and a Verna on National Highway 43, at Dhruwar Toll Plaza in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh and seized 123.080 kgs Ganja. Shivam Singh (owner of the seized vehicles), Sant Kumar Yadav, Balmukund Mishra & Uttam Singh (all carriers) were arrested in the case. The consignment was sourced from Koraput (Odisha) and was destined for Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The Investigation team further arrested the receiver of contraband named Suresh Kumar Bind. On 24.02.2025, the Special NDPS Court, Shahdol, convicted the four accused, Shivam Singh, Sant Kumar Yadav, Balmukund Mishra, & Uttam Singh and sentenced them to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh each.

Chandigarh Zone

3.     A parcel containing two hockey sticks packed with 438 grams of opium was intercepted at DHL Express, Ludhiana, by the officers of NCB Chandigarh. The parcel was booked by the accused Nasib Singh, with Gobind Singh accompanying him during the booking. A case NCB Crime No. 06/2024 was registered, and a complaint was filed after investigation. The Special Court, Ludhiana, on 31.01.25, has pronounced its verdict and convicted Nasib Singh and Gobind Singh (Head munshi Punjab Police) under Sections 18(c), 23, 28, and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, sentencing them accordingly for their role in attempting to transport opium to Canada. The Court sentenced both the convicts to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹10,000 (in default, one additional month of imprisonment) under the NDPS Act.

4.     On 30.12.2021, NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit intercepted Bhim Lama at Chandigarh Railway Station before he could board the Paschim Express to Mumbai in possession of 390 grams of Charas. The accused was formally arrested, and upon completion of the investigation, the case was presented before the Special Court. The accused voluntarily confessed to his guilt, leading to his conviction. On 08.01.2025, the Special Court, Chandigarh, convicted Bhim Lama under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, 1985, for possession of 390 grams of Charas. The court, considering the remorse shown by the convict and the non-commercial quantity of the contraband, awarded 6 months of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 (one additional month of imprisonment in case of default on fine payment) under the NDPS Act.

Cochin Zone

5.     On 19.06.2021, NCB Cochin intercepted a Zimbabwean lady named Sharon Chigwaza on her arrival at the Cochin International Airport. Sharon Chigwaza was travelling from Johannesburg to Kochi via Doha by Qatar Airways. Further examination of her checked-in luggage led to the recovery and seizure of 2.910kg Heroin. Accordingly, the said lady was arrested, and a case OR No. 04/2021 was registered by the NCB Cochin Zonal Unit. On completion of the investigation, a complaint bearing SC No. 554/2022 was filed before the District & Sessions Court, Ernakulam.  The trial was conducted before the VII Additional District & Sessions Court, Ernakulam and on completion of the trial, the Court has found Sharon Chigwaza to be guilty of the offences under Sec 8(c) read with 21(c) and 23(c) of NDPS Act, 1985 for possession and illegal import of the seized contraband. In the detailed judgment pronounced on 29.01.2025, the Court has punished the accused with 11 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.3,00,000/-.

Dehradun Zone

6.     On 05.01.2018, NCB Dehradun seized 450 grams of Charas, leading to the arrest of Naman Bansal. Further investigation in the case led to the arrest of one more co-accused person, namely Ashutosh Uniyal, a resident of Dehradun, on  19.02.2018. After the completion of trial proceedings, the NDPS Court, Dehradun (UKD) convicted accused Naman Bansal with 01-year RI and with a fine of Rs. 20,000/- on 18.01.2025.

Delhi Zone

7.     On 19.03,2021, NCB Delhi Zonal Unit seized 1.950 kg of Charas from the possession of two accused persons, namely Sahi Ram and Satywan @ Pandit, and arrested them for trafficking of the seized substance. After a thorough investigation, a complaint was filed in the NDPS Court, Jind (Haryana), under NDPS Case No. 11/2021. The Court convicted both the accused to 10 years RI and with a fine of Rs. 01 lakh each on 10.01.2025.

Hyderabad Zone

8.     On 24.02.2021, officers of NCB Hyderabad Zone seized 681.8 Kg Ganja at Pedda Amberpet Toll Plaza on Nehru Outer Ring Road, Hayathnagar Mandal, Ranga Reddy District. The contraband was being transported in three vehicles: a Mahindra Bolero Pick-Up, a Honda City, and a Swift Dezire from Sileru, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) to Pune and Osmanabad via Hyderabad. Eight accused, namely Suresh Shyamrao Pawar, Vishal Ramesh Pawar,  Balaji Ramdas Ware,  Manoj Vilas Dhotre,  Dhyaneshwar Lalasaheb Deshmukh, Ramraje Chaturbhuj Gunjale,  Akshay Anant Gandhi and  Sachin Dagadu Sanap,  were arrested and charged for drug trafficking. the Additional District & Sessions Court, Ranga Reddy, convicted all eight accused and sentenced them to 10 years of Rigorous Imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh under the NDPS Act, 1985.

Indore Zone

9.     In September 2021, NCB Indore intercepted a truck on National Highway 07 at Alonia Toll Plaza in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh and seized 152.665 kgs Ganja. Mahendra Singh Yadav & Sohail Daud Khan Pathan were arrested in the case. The consignment was sourced from Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and was destined for Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.  The investigation team further arrested the receiver, Suresh Gupta & Co-receiver, as well as the owner of the seized truck, Ram Babu Yadav. On 22.02.2025, the Special NDPS Court, Seoni, convicted all four accused and sentenced them to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh each.

Kolkata Zone

10.    On 11.07.2020, officers of NCB Kolkata Zone seized 1301 Kgs of Ganja from a TATA 709 Light Goods Vehicle (LGV) bearing Regn No. WB 15 A 3873 at NH12 between Plassey and Krishnanagar near Paglachandi, as per NCB Cr. No. 15/2020. Two accused, namely Sahajan Tarafdar and Uttam Debnath, were arrested and charged for drug trafficking. The trial continued for over 04 years. On 21.02.2025, the NDPS Spl. Court, Nadia at Krishnanagar convicted the accused Shajahan Tarafdar for 15 years rigorous imprisonment with Rs 1 lakh fine under the NDPS Act, 1985.

Lucknow Zone

11.    On 14.02.2022, NCB Lucknow seized 3.1 kilograms of Charas/Hashish from the possession of the accused, Dashrath, son of Devdutt, residing in Chiripur, PS Sirsiya, District Shrawasti, Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested, and after investigation, a Complaint was filed u/s 8, 20, and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. The Additional District Court Shravasti found the accused, Dashrath, ‘Guilty’ of illicit drug trafficking and sentenced him to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of 150,000 rupees on 02.01.2025.

12.    On 04.01.2024, NCB Lucknow seized 08 kilograms of Opium from the possession of the accused, Dheeraj Kr. Dangi, son of Late Baijnath Dangi, residing in Village, Post, &  Police Station- Gidhour, District- Chatra, Jharkhand. He was arrested, and after investigation, a Complaint was filed u/s 8, 18, and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. The Additional District Court Bareilly found the accused, Dheeraj Kr. Dangi, ‘Guilty’ of illicit drug trafficking and sentenced him to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of 1,00,000 rupees on 21.02.2025.

These convictions exemplify the NCB’s dedication to ensuring the successful prosecution of its cases filed before the courts. Under the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Coordination Shri Amit Shah, NCB is working relentlessly to realise Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047. NCB seeks the support of people in the fight against drugs. Information about drug trafficking can be provided confidentially at NCB’s MANAS Helpline Number 1933.

The Modi govt is unsparing in punishing drug traffickers who drag our youth into the dark abyss of addiction for the greed of money.

As a result of a foolproof investigation with a bottom-to-top and top-to-bottom strategy, 29 drug traffickers have been convicted by the court in…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 2, 2025