ANTF arrests 45 top drug smugglers in 175 days, cracks interstate drug network

Jaipur: Completing 175 days since its formation, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested a 45-strong list of high-value drug smugglers and masterminds in a sweeping crackdown across Rajasthan and beyond, while seizing narcotics worth an estimated Rs 563 crore.IG ANTF Vikas Kumar said the suspects include long-absconding traffickers carrying rewards between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh, with a cumulative bounty of Rs 11.5 lakh declared on them.According to Kumar, these individuals had been operating entrenched narcotics networks for years, supplying drugs across Rajasthan and neighbouring states.Of the 45 arrested, 13 were tracked and caught outside Rajasthan — in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal — after ANTF teams camped for weeks and laid coordinated traps. The remaining 32 were held from various districts within the state. Notably, four of the state's five most wanted smugglers figure among those arrested. State-wise, the arrests include 32 from Rajasthan, five from Madhya Pradesh, three from Gujarat, two from Haryana, and one each from Punjab and West Bengal. Within Rajasthan, Barmer accounted for the highest number of arrests at 15, followed by Jalore (4), Bhilwara, Phalodi, Pratapgarh, Jaipur and Chittorgarh (3 each). Sriganganagar, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Jhalawar saw two arrests each, while Banswara, Jhunjhunu and Sikar recorded one each. Two arrests were linked to cases handled by the SOG.Officials said the Rs 563 crore seizure value pertains strictly to narcotic substances and excludes the worth of confiscated vehicles, weapons and manufacturing setups. Terming it a record since the unit's inception on Oct 7, Kumar said the force had targeted "every form of narcotics" through sustained operations.In its first 175 days, ANTF has also built its operational backbone, setting up 18 checkpoints, a dedicated police station and a full-fledged headquarters, with personnel selected, trained and deployed across the state.