NEW DELHI: In a financial investigation aimed at breaking the backbone of narcotics cartels, the Delhi Police has frozen properties worth around Rs 27 crore belonging to such offenders in the last three years.
The data stated that properties worth around Rs 38 lakh, belonging to three narco offenders, were frozen in 2023. Similarly, in 2024, properties worth Rs 5 crore of 28 offenders were seized, out of which more than Rs 4.5 crore was frozen by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Crime Branch. In 2025 till September 15, properties worth around Rs 21.5 crore (Rs 17.5 crore by ANTF) belonging to 30 narco offenders have been frozen. In addition, financial investigations are under process against 19 narco offenders, involving properties valued at over Rs five crore, police said.
Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastva said that Delhi Police is committed to waging a war against narcotics and implementing a zero-tolerance policy towards drug-related crimes.
Delhi Police is determined to eradicate drug trafficking from its roots, ensuring a safer and healthier society. To achieve this target, the police department has done significant work in the field of financial investigation under the NDPS Act.
The ANTF, Crime Branch, being a nodal agency, has been at the forefront of integrating financial investigation into all major NDPS cases.
The Crime Branch has institutionalised a dual approach. Operational investigations are responsible for the arrest of traffickers, seizure of contraband, and dismantling of supply networks, while financial investigations deal with tracing money trails, identifying assets, and initiating forfeiture proceedings, police said.
“The Delhi Police is committed to further strengthening financial investigations under the NDPS Act through specialised training, where officers are being trained in forensic accounting, cyber-financial investigations, and cryptocurrency tracing. Dedicated financial units are being planned within the ANTF, solely for financial probes.
“Legal coordination is also being enhanced for closer collaboration with prosecutors and competent authorities to ensure faster attachments and forfeitures. Since narcotics is a global problem, we aim to enhance cooperation with foreign enforcement agencies to track cross-border money flows,” Srivastav stated.