- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 09 May 2025 02:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), formed by the Uttar Pradesh government to combat the growing menace of drug trafficking and illegal liquor trade, has made significant strides in its mission since its inception in August 2023. Acting under the direct initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the task force has identified 20 major drug smuggling gangs operating in the state and has seized narcotics worth over Rs 250 crore in the past three years.
Operating in close coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), ANTF has emerged as a vital unit in tackling the narcotics trade across UP, which remains vulnerable due to its proximity to smuggling routes from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Drugs such as ganja, hashish, opium, heroin, and synthetic substances have been regularly smuggled into the state through both rail and road networks.
The ANTF currently has eight specialised units deployed across key regions, targeting hotbeds of narcotics activity in districts like Agra, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Lucknow, Barabanki, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Aligarh, and Mirzapur. With the increasing presence of synthetic drugs, the force is now facing new challenges requiring advanced investigation and inter-agency coordination.
In 2023, the force seized over 12,000 kilograms of narcotics, which further rose to more than 13,000 kilograms in 2024. So far this year alone, over 4,000 kilograms of illegal substances have been confiscated. Additionally, over two lakh kilograms of narcotics have been destroyed across various districts in the last two years, underscoring the scale of the crackdown.
DGP Prashant Kumar confirmed that drug smugglers are using trains extensively, in addition to highways, to transport narcotics. He added that joint operations with other law enforcement agencies are underway to dismantle these supply chains.
Key smuggling routes unearthed include:
-Ganja from Odisha to UP and Haryana
-Bhutanese ganja via Assam into eastern UP
-Charas from Nepal into border districts
-Opium and charas from Uttarakhand through rail routes
-Supply chains from Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh using both road and rail
-Heroin and opium from Myanmar and Bangladesh entering via West Bengal
The ANTF’s aggressive operations and intelligence-led strategies mark a strong step towards eradicating drug networks in Uttar Pradesh, but authorities acknowledge that continuous surveillance and stronger interstate coordination are essential to sustain long-term impact.