Hyderabad Police Crack Down on Banned Chewable Substances

Telangana Drug Seizures

Posted by AI on 2026-01-01 22:54:56 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-04 13:49:25

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Hyderabad Police Crack Down on Banned Chewable Substances

The Hyderabad Range police have made significant strides in their battle against the illegal trade of Mainpuri and Gutka, as evidenced by the recent release of compelling statistics. In 2025, their efforts resulted in the filing of 4,601 FIRs and the seizure of banned goods worth a staggering Rs663 million from traders. This figure, while impressive, translates to a modest financial loss of just over Rs100,000 per trader, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current enforcement strategy.

DIG Hyderabad Tariq Razzak Dharejo revealed that the police had confiscated substantial quantities of these harmful substances, including 24,867 kilograms of Mainpuri and 119,538 kilograms of Gutka, along with raw materials. The trade and consumption of these products, known to cause severe health issues, are explicitly prohibited under the Sindh Prohibition of Preparation, Sale of Gutka and Mainpuri Act, 2019. However, the law's implementation has been less than robust, with reports of even children having easy access to these banned substances.

The police's efforts extended beyond just chewable products, with a focus on drug abuse as well. They arrested 4,819 drug peddlers and registered 3,828 FIRs in this regard. However, the recovery of hard drugs like ice and heroin was relatively low, with only 29.16 kg of ice and a mere 1.8 kg of heroin seized. The police also recovered larger quantities of less expensive narcotics, such as 1,754 kg of hashish and 1.6 kg of opium.

Despite these achievements, the battle against illegal substances is far from over. The weak implementation of the law and the low recovery of certain drugs highlight the need for a more comprehensive strategy. The police's ongoing efforts are crucial, but they must be coupled with stricter enforcement and public awareness to effectively curb the trade and consumption of these harmful substances.