Hubli, Karnataka, October 20, 2025 – In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Hubli police have dismantled a sophisticated inter-state drug cartel operating from a nondescript godown on the outskirts of Dharwad, seizing over 20 kilograms of synthetic drugs valued at approximately ₹5 crore on the black market. Three key operatives were arrested, with authorities believing the bust has disrupted a supply chain that extended to Maharashtra, Goa, and even parts of Kerala.
The operation, codenamed "Operation Venom," was the culmination of a three-month undercover investigation by the Hubli-Dharwad City Crime Branch (CCB), led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ravi Kumar. Acting on a tip-off from a reliable informant, a team of 25 officers raided the godown in the industrial area of Dharwad around 2 a.m. on Monday. The swift action prevented the cartel from offloading a fresh consignment, which was reportedly en route to coastal party hubs in Goa.
"These synthetic drugs, primarily methamphetamine and MDMA variants, were being smuggled in from clandestine labs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh," ACP Kumar told reporters at a press briefing held at the Hubli Police Commissionerate. "The cartel used fake consignments of spices and textiles to mask the narcotics, exploiting the busy Dharwad-Hubli highway for transit. We've seized not just the drugs but also packaging materials, digital weighing scales, and two vehicles used for transport."
Preliminary investigations reveal the godown, rented under a fictitious name, served as a primary storage and distribution point. Police recovered 18 kg of crystalline methamphetamine—commonly known as "ice"—and 2.5 kg of MDMA tablets, along with small quantities of ketamine. Forensic teams from the Karnataka State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Bengaluru were immediately dispatched to the site, where traces of chemical residues suggest the facility was also used for minor repackaging.
The arrested suspects—identified as 35-year-old logistics operator Sanjay Patil from Mumbai, 28-year-old Dharwad local Ravi Hegde, and 42-year-old financier Lakshman Rao from Hyderabad—have been remanded to 14 days of police custody. Sources indicate Patil was the nexus linking the cartel to larger syndicates in Mumbai's underworld, while Hegde handled local logistics. "Interrogations are underway, and we expect more arrests in the coming days," added ACP Kumar. "This network has been fueling youth addiction in our college towns and tourist spots."
The bust comes amid a surge in synthetic drug abuse across Karnataka, with the state reporting a 30% rise in NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases in the first half of 2025, according to data from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Hubli-Dharwad, a key junction for North Karnataka's transport routes, has emerged as a hotspot for such trafficking, with similar raids in Belagavi and Kalaburagi yielding over 50 kg of contraband in the past year.
Local residents and community leaders hailed the police action. "We've seen too many young lives ruined by these party drugs sneaking in from neighboring states," said Dr. Meera Patil, a counselor at a Dharwad de-addiction center. "This raid is a wake-up call—parents and schools need to step up awareness drives."
Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara commended the Hubli force via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), pledging additional resources for anti-narcotics units. "Our zero-tolerance policy against drug peddlers will continue unabated. Kudos to the brave officers who put their lives on the line."
The investigation is ongoing, with the CCB coordinating with the NCB and Maharashtra Police to trace upstream suppliers. A detailed chargesheet under the NDPS Act is expected within 90 days. In the meantime, heightened patrols have been deployed along NH-48, the arterial road connecting Hubli to Mumbai, to deter further smuggling attempts.
This operation underscores the evolving threat of synthetic narcotics in India's southern corridor, where easy access to precursor chemicals from industrial hubs has empowered small-time cartels to rival traditional opium networks. As the festive season approaches, authorities urge the public to report suspicious activities via the toll-free helpline 1933.
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