63 arrested in massive overnight raid by 500 cops against drug peddlers across New Delhi

In a major crackdown, South East Delhi Police arrested 63 accused individuals during an overnight raid conducted across multiple locations in the national capital.

The operation, which involved 500 police personnel and 40 specialised teams, led to the recovery of 15 pistols, along with significant quantities of MDMA, cocaine, heroin, and cash.

The large-scale raid targeted criminal networks operating in the South East Delhi region, aiming to curb illegal activities, including drug trafficking and arms possession. The authorities stated that the operation was meticulously planned and executed based on credible intelligence inputs.

Further investigations are under way to trace the source of the recovered contraband.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have intensified its war against narcotics by focusing on the financial backbone of drug cartels, adopting a zero-tolerance policy against drug-related crimes.

Officials said the strength of drug traffickers lies not only in contraband but also in the vast sums of illicit money generated from the trade. These funds are used to expand criminal activities, infiltrate legitimate businesses, destabilise economies, and, in some cases, fund terrorism.

"Any meaningful fight against narcotics must go beyond traditional enforcement and focus equally on financial investigations," the Delhi Police said in a statement.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act empowers law enforcement agencies to trace, freeze, and forfeit properties derived from the narcotics trade. Under Section 68, illegally acquired properties can be attached and confiscated, thereby choking the financial lifeline of traffickers. By depriving offenders of their illicit wealth, the authorities not only punish individuals but also dismantle the infrastructure sustaining the drug network.