The Gujarat Police have increased the use of preventive detention for repeat offenders in narcotics cases, detaining five more individuals under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. This brings the total detentions under this act to 21 in the first four months of 2026. In 2025, 86 accused were detained under the same law and placed in various jails, indicating a growing reliance on preventive measures against drug-related crimes.
The Director General of Police (CID Crime), Dr. K.L.N. Rao, issued the detention orders, which were carried out by teams from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and CID Crime. The operation spanned Rajkot city, as well as Aravalli, Banaskantha, Navsari, and Junagadh districts. The detained individuals include Babu Ninama, Ishwar alias Hendal Salat, Manojgiri Goswami, Waheed Panja, and Imran Belim, who had all been previously arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act but were released on bail.
Under the PIT NDPS Act, authorities can detain individuals preventively to prevent them from engaging in activities involving narcotic substances. This action is taken when there is a risk of accused persons returning to drug-related activities after release from jail. The Gujarat Police stated that they apply the PIT NDPS Act against those involved in narcotics-related offenses, similar to how PASA is used against anti-social elements. The state government has a “zero tolerance” stance on drug-related crimes and is dedicated to making Gujarat a drug-free state, taking all necessary measures in this regard.
