Jaipur, Nov 12: Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar Sharma said on Wednesday that interstate borders will be strictly monitored to fight the drug cartels who are hell-bend on destroying the youth of the country.

The Rajasthan Police has also taken a significant stride toward its vision of a drug-free society, with the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in Jaipur.

Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar Sharma inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility at Jagatpura on Wednesday. The new office is expected to provide fresh impetus to the state’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

Addressing the media, DGP Rajiv Sharma highlighted the ANTF’s strengthened strategy to counter drug trafficking across the state.

He informed that 18 ANTF checkpoints are being established, out of which 10 are already functional. The task force, he said, will be equipped with advanced resources and technology to ensure a strong crackdown on the illegal drug trade.

He added that a coordinated approach has been launched involving central and state enforcement agencies to ensure a comprehensive fight against narcotics.

“Anti-drone systems have been deployed along interstate borders to curb drug smuggling, while the BSF and Rajasthan Police are jointly working to tighten border surveillance,” he said.

Sharma emphasised that while local police units will also participate in anti-drug operations, the ANTF will function as a dedicated and specialised force, devoting its full capacity to the mission.

He further warned that strict action will be taken against criminals who exploit minors for drug trafficking under the new legal provisions.

The inauguration began with a puja ceremony, followed by DGP Rajiv Sharma formally cutting the ribbon to open the ANTF headquarters.

Inspector General (IG) ANTF Vikas Kumar welcomed the DGP and gave him a detailed tour of various branches of the unit. He also presented an overview of the ANTF’s major operations and achievements to date.

In-charges of 10 operational ANTF checkpoints, including those in Sriganganagar, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jalore, joined the event virtually and introduced themselves to the DGP.

The ceremony was attended by several senior officers, including DG Traffic Anil Paliwal and ADGs Dinesh MN, Hawa Singh Ghumaria, Bhupendra Sahu, VK Singh, Vishal Bansal, Bipin Pandey, Prashakha Mathur, and Lata Manoj Kumar, along with other senior police officials.

Mumbai, Nov 12: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major gold smuggling and melting syndicate in Mumbai under “Operation Bullion Blaze”, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The operation exposed an organised network engaged in smuggling gold into India, melting it in clandestine furnaces, and offloading the refined bullion into the grey market.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted simultaneous searches on November 10 at four discreet premises in Mumbai — two illegal melting units and two unregistered shops.

Both furnaces were found operational, equipped with complete setups to convert smuggled gold concealed in wax and other forms into bars. Officers seized 6.35 kg of gold on the spot and detained those running the units.

Follow-up searches at two shops linked to the mastermind — used for receiving smuggled gold and selling melted bars to local buyers — led to the recovery of an additional 5.53 kg of gold bars.

In total, 11.88 kg of 24-carat gold valued at Rs 15.05 crore and 8.72 kg of silver worth Rs 13.17 lakh were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Eleven persons, including the mastermind, his father, a manager, four hired melters, an accountant, and three delivery personnel, were arrested. All accused were produced before the court in Mumbai, and remanded to judicial custody, according to the statement.

Preliminary investigations indicate a well-organised conspiracy to smuggle and sell gold illicitly, in clear violation of India’s gold import policy and aimed at evading government revenue.

The DRI reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised smuggling networks that undermine revenue, distort markets, and threaten fiscal stability. By intercepting illicit gold flows and disrupting the shadow economy, the DRI continues to safeguard India’s economic interests and uphold a fair and transparent trading environment.

Further investigation is underway.

Mumbai: The Churchgate railway police have booked a man for allegedly molesting and filming a woman without her consent on a local train.

The accused has been identified as Hemanshu Gandhi, 40, a resident of Malad East and an employee of a private company. The victim, a 30-year-old advocate, practises at the Bombay High Court. According to the railway police, the incident occurred on November 9, around 8.20 pm on a Churchgate–Borivali fast local train in the general compartment.

The victim, a resident of Bandra West, was returning home from work when the accused allegedly recorded her video without permission. She objected to his act and later lodged a complaint with the Borivali railway police after alighting from the train.

The Borivali police registered a zero FIR and transferred the case to the Churchgate railway police. The case has been registered under Sections 77 (voyeurism), 78 (stalking), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the BNS on November 10. The GRP has issued a notice to the accused.