Karnataka Launches Anti-Narcotic Task Force to Combat Drug Menace

The Karnataka government has established an Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) to tackle the rising tide of drug-related crimes, particularly in Bengaluru, with a focus on disrupting the supply chain and enhancing enforcement. An official order issued on August 1, 2025, outlines the creation of the ANTF, which will operate under the supervision of the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) M.A. Saleem, reporting to Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Command, Pronab Mohanty. The move comes amid growing concerns over drug trafficking and abuse, with Bengaluru reporting 3,250 NDPS cases in 2024, a 15% rise from 2023, per Karnataka Police data.

The ANTF will comprise 10 newly sanctioned posts, including two Additional Superintendents of Police and two Assistant Commissioners of Police to oversee narcotics-related cases, alongside 56 personnel reallocated from the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), such as two Police Inspectors, four Police Sub-Inspectors, 20 Head Constables, and 30 Constables. The task force will also engage outsourced experts, including forensic specialists, legal advisors, and data analysts, to bolster investigations. The estimated annual recurring cost for the new roles is Rs 2.77 crore, reflecting the state’s commitment to a robust anti-drug framework.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara, addressing the media on August 4, emphasized the ANTF’s proactive approach, stating, “They act wherever information comes from. We’ve given specific instructions to every Superintendent of Police.” He highlighted the strategic redeployment of ANF personnel, noting that Karnataka’s Naxal threat has been largely neutralized, allowing the government to retain a scaled-down ANF while transferring 200–250 personnel to the Special Action Force for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and now to the ANTF to address Bengaluru’s staffing shortages. “If needed, we will redeploy more personnel,” he added.

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The order also restructures existing frameworks, renaming 43 Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) police stations as Cyber Crime Police Stations, limiting their jurisdiction to cases under the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for cybercrimes. Narcotics and economic offense cases will now fall exclusively under the ANTF’s purview. This aligns with a July 23, 2025, Narco Coordination Committee meeting, where Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh mandated training all police personnel on the MAP-Drugs app to enhance drug-related data collection and awareness, with information to be available in Kannada on government websites.

The ANTF’s formation follows a national push for dedicated anti-narcotics units, spurred by the Union Home Ministry’s 2021 directive for a “drug-free India.” Karnataka’s initiative mirrors efforts in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, with the state seizing 1,200 kg of cannabis and 45 kg of synthetic drugs in 2024, per Narcotics Control Bureau reports. Social media reactions on X, under hashtags like #KarnatakaANTF and #DrugFreeBengaluru, praise the move but urge stricter enforcement in colleges and nightlife hubs, with one user stating, “Bengaluru’s drug problem needs this task force, but it must act fast.” The ANTF’s success will hinge on coordination with agencies like the NCB and public awareness campaigns to curb demand, as the state aims to make Bengaluru a drug-free hub.

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