South Andaman Police have stepped up their fight against narcotics with a series of operations that resulted in four arrests and significant seizures over the past week. In two separate drives conducted by Pahargaon and Aberdeen Police Stations, officers seized more than nine kilograms of ganja and a quantity of methamphetamine, demonstrating a firm stance against the rising presence of drugs in the islands.
The first case unfolded on August 30, 2025, when Pahargaon Police acted on intelligence reports of ganja being peddled in the Attampahar locality. A team led by Inspector Mohd. Elias, Station House Officer of Pahargaon, moved swiftly to the area along with Sub-Inspector Manish Narayan, PSIs Nirmala and A. Santhosh, and constables Shiv Kumar and Santosh Lal. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Al Yasin Yousuf, a resident of Lamba Line, was intercepted near Tandoor. A search conducted in the presence of a gazetted officer and independent witnesses revealed a brown parcel containing 1.170 kilograms of ganja.
The contraband was seized on the spot under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the accused was taken into custody. Officials confirmed that all legal and procedural requirements were followed during the operation. The raid was carried out under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ajay Kumar Rai and the overall command of Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Meena.
Barely days earlier, Aberdeen Police Station had already executed a sequence of raids across Sri Vijaya Puram that culminated in the arrest of three individuals in three separate incidents. Conducted between August 28 and August 30, the operations targeted suspected drug peddlers at multiple urban locations.
On August 28, a team led by Inspector Vishal Ram, Station House Officer of Aberdeen Police, intercepted 27-year-old Alapati Mani Raju of Dollygunj near the Fisheries Training Centre at Dignabad. Officers recovered 8.120 kilograms of ganja from his possession, one of the larger hauls in recent months.
The very next day, August 29, the team acted on intelligence again and carried out a raid near the Joggers Park area close to Forest Nursery in Sri Vijaya Puram. This time, 27-year-old Kuldeep Singh, a private worker from Goal Ghar, was found in possession of 585 grams of ganja. He was promptly arrested, with the seizure recorded in the presence of witnesses.
On August 30, Aberdeen Police conducted their third raid in as many days. At the backside of ITF Ground, Sri Vijaya Puram, they apprehended 26-year-old C. Sathyapriya, son of N. Chandran of Dairy Farm. Officers recovered 1.68 grams of methamphetamine during the operation, underscoring the emergence of synthetic narcotics alongside traditional cannabis-based substances in the islands.
All three individuals were booked under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and investigations are underway to trace the sources of supply and possible networks distributing contraband across the islands. Officials indicated that these cases are being pursued with the intent of dismantling supply chains rather than only prosecuting individual offenders.
The series of operations highlight the two-pronged strategy of South Andaman Police: decisive on-ground raids backed by actionable intelligence, and repeated appeals for public cooperation. Police have urged residents to come forward with credible information about drug trafficking by contacting helplines such as 112, 03192-232100, 03192-236641, and 03192-232400. Authorities assured that the identity of informants will remain protected.
The seizures of more than nine kilograms of ganja and methamphetamine underline the persistent challenges law enforcement faces in tackling drug-related activity in the islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ geographic isolation, open maritime access, and proximity to international waters create vulnerabilities that traffickers attempt to exploit. At the same time, growing urban demand has made areas such as Sri Vijaya Puram and its surrounding localities key targets for distribution.
For law enforcement, these raids are not isolated events but part of a larger zero-tolerance policy aimed at reducing narcotics supply. In recent years, South Andaman Police have intensified checks, expanded surveillance, and increased patrolling in both urban and rural areas to curb the circulation of illicit substances. The back-to-back operations in Aberdeen and Pahargaon reflect a momentum that authorities are keen to maintain.
Legal proceedings for all four accused are underway, with the cases being pursued under the NDPS Act. Convictions under this law carry strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines, depending on the classification and quantity of the drugs involved. These penalties are intended to act as deterrents against trafficking and consumption.
The recent arrests also underscore the importance of community involvement in sustaining anti-narcotics campaigns. Authorities point out that credible intelligence from the public has repeatedly enabled timely raids.
The four arrests mark a significant success for South Andaman Police, but officials stress that enforcement must continue to remain consistent. For residents of the islands, these cases serve as reminders of both the risks posed by narcotics and the efforts being made to counter them. With ongoing surveillance and public cooperation, authorities believe the circulation of drugs in the islands can be curtailed, though not without persistent challenges.
The week-long sequence of raids in August and September 2025 paints a picture of police forces acting with urgency and coordination. While investigations continue, the immediate impact has been to disrupt supply chains and send a clear signal that narcotics activity will be met with strict enforcement. For South Andaman, these operations are not only law enforcement successes but also critical steps in safeguarding the social fabric of the islands.
