Home Minister G Parameshwara announced on Thursday that Bengaluru police have confiscated 4,000 kilograms of ganja and synthetic narcotics valued at ₹45 crore over the past year. He shared these details while addressing the ‘Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs’ event held at Kanteerava Stadium to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Human Trafficking.
Parameshwara stated that authorities have deported over 200 foreign nationals linked to drug trafficking. In coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), the police have been conducting rigorous operations to identify and remove foreign drug peddlers from the city.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment, he said, “The government is employing all legal avenues to tackle drug abuse and is determined to deliver a strong warning to students about its dangers.” He added, “Punjab once faced the label ‘Udta Punjab’ due to widespread drug consumption. We are making sure Karnataka or Bengaluru never acquires such a reputation.”
According to officials, awareness drives have already reached 6.5 lakh students across the state, with police teams regularly visiting schools and colleges to educate young people. All higher education institutions have been instructed to establish dedicated anti-drug committees to monitor and prevent substance abuse.
More than 50,000 students from 500 colleges participated in the event virtually and pledged to stay drug-free. The programme was attended by State Police Chief MA Saleem, Cyber Command Unit Director General Pronab Mohanty, and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.