Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government will set up six new Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) units across different zones of the state to curb drug trafficking, sale, and production. With the establishment of these units, the fight against drugs in Gujarat will become stronger.

To further strengthen the existing Narcotics Cell, these ANTF units will be equipped with an additional sanctioned strength of 177 personnel, including one SP, six DYSPs, and 13 PIs. Earlier, the Narcotics Cell had 34 officers and staff, which will now increase to 211 with the operationalization of ANTF. These police officers and personnel will exclusively focus on crimes related to the NDPS Act, under the overall supervision of CID Crime.

The six new ANTF units will function in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and the Border Zone. This zonal structure will help dismantle drug networks across every corner of the state.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said that through these units, “cutting-edge level” action will be taken across the state against drug mafias, suppliers, and peddlers linked to narcotics networks.

Director General of Police Vikas Sahay stated that the zonal police stations will maintain coordination in investigating drug-related crimes. The ANTF units will ensure systematic investigations of registered cases, making it easier to secure strict punishments for offenders. This decision will prove crucial in fulfilling the resolve to free the state from the menace of drugs, marking a historic step in the fight against narcotics.

Key features of ANTF units

Supervision in investigations: In NDPS cases registered at local police stations, a ‘top-to-bottom’ and ‘bottom-to-top’ approach will be adopted, where the supervision of ANTF units will prove effective.

Data analysis and intelligence unit: The new units will also have a dedicated data analysis and intelligence wing. These units will collect and consolidate information on repeat NDPS offenders, syndicate structures, and inter-state narco-offenders, and conduct data-based analysis. This will enable ANTF units to play a crucial role in carrying out intensive action against such criminals.

Acceleration of PIT NDPS actions: Just as action is taken against anti-social elements under PASA (Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act), action is also taken against NDPS offenders under PIT NDPS (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act). With the support of the data analysis and intelligence unit, ANTF will now be able to take faster and stricter action against drug mafias. DeshGujarat