Police busted multiple drug trafficking networks operating across Bengaluru and arrested 23 persons, including two foreign nationals and six individuals from other States, during a series of coordinated raids conducted over the past several days.

The operations were carried out by officers of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) along with personnel from Hebbal, Indiranagar, Jeevan Bheemanagar, Suddaguntepalya, Hennur, Banaswadi, Ulsoor and KG Halli police stations following specific intelligence inputs regarding the illegal sale of narcotic substances and prohibited tobacco products, City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said.

According to Mr. Singh, cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, after informants provided credible information about drug trafficking activities in different parts of the city. Subsequent raids led to the apprehension of 23 accused.

According to police, the accused revealed during interrogation that they had procured narcotic substances from foreign, inter-state and local sources for sale to consumers in Bengaluru, including college students.

The seized contraband includes 5.360 kg of hydro ganja, 10.998 kg of ganja, 143 grams of cocaine, 237 grams of MDMA, and 107 grams of methamphetamine. Police also seized 1,197 e-cigarettes, 180 boxes of e-cigarette oil and e-cigarettes, 452 boxes of foreign cigarettes, 490 foreign cigarettes, 1,206 hookah cigarettes, 120 hookah sets, 100 e-cigarette refills, and six additional hookah sets.

Officials estimated the value of the seized contraband at around ₹4 crore, while its illegal market value is believed to be nearly double, taking the total worth of the haul to approximately ₹8 crore.

All the accused were produced before the jurisdictional courts and remanded to judicial custody. Police said efforts are underway to trace the suppliers and other members of the drug distribution network.