📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Surat City Police
Crime
Surat police arrest 320 in 257 narcotics cases this year, cannabis tops list with 178
✍️ The Hawk
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 03:33 AM
👁 11
Surat police have arrested 320 individuals across 257 narcotics cases reported this year, with cannabis (ganja) accounting for 178 of those cases.
Surat law‑enforcement agencies disclosed that 320 persons have been taken into custody this year in connection with 257 narcotics investigations recorded in the city. The figures represent the cumulative tally of arrests made since January, reflecting an intensified crackdown on drug‑related offences.
Among the substances seized, cannabis – locally referred to as ganja – featured in the highest number of cases, with 178 incidents linked to its possession, consumption or trafficking. Other narcotics, including opioids and synthetic drugs, accounted for the remaining cases.
Police officials indicated that the operations are part of a broader state‑wide effort to curb drug abuse and illegal trade, citing coordinated raids, intelligence‑driven checks and increased surveillance in known hotspots. The department has not released the identities of the arrested individuals, citing ongoing investigations.
The surge in arrests aligns with Gujarat’s recent policy focus on drug control, which includes stricter penalties and community awareness programmes aimed at reducing demand for illicit substances.
Among the substances seized, cannabis – locally referred to as ganja – featured in the highest number of cases, with 178 incidents linked to its possession, consumption or trafficking. Other narcotics, including opioids and synthetic drugs, accounted for the remaining cases.
Police officials indicated that the operations are part of a broader state‑wide effort to curb drug abuse and illegal trade, citing coordinated raids, intelligence‑driven checks and increased surveillance in known hotspots. The department has not released the identities of the arrested individuals, citing ongoing investigations.
The surge in arrests aligns with Gujarat’s recent policy focus on drug control, which includes stricter penalties and community awareness programmes aimed at reducing demand for illicit substances.