As Bengaluru gears up for New Year 2026 celebrations, police reports indicate an increase in drug-related activities, with traffickers reportedly shifting operations to nearby tier-2 cities like Tumakuru to avoid the capital’s intensified surveillance.
Acting on credible intelligence, Tumakuru police carried out multiple operations in the past few days, arresting more than ten drug peddlers. In a major breakthrough, a female trafficker named Ayesha, a Bengaluru resident with a B.Com degree, was arrested while distributing MDMA worth Rs1 lakh. Officials revealed that Ayesha initially consumed drugs before establishing her own supply network in Tumakuru.
Police say Ayesha’s case highlights a worrying trend: educated individuals increasingly becoming involved in drug networks. Some traffickers are reportedly targeting smaller cities to escape heavy policing in Bengaluru during the festive season.
In separate operations, Tilak Park Police intercepted three gangs, arresting six accused. One Bengaluru-based gang dealing in MDMA was caught, while an interstate gang transporting ganja from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh was stopped before local distribution. Authorities seized ganja worth Rs8 lakh during these raids.
Meanwhile, Mysuru City CCB Police seized 176 grams of hydro-ganja worth Rs17 lakh from a residence in Naidu Nagar. Two suspects, Aftab Ali Baig and Pratap Kumar, were arrested, and a case was registered at NR Police Station.
Officials note that the series of busts across Tumakuru and Mysuru underscores a shift of drug trafficking from metropolitan areas into smaller cities, likely driven by intensified Bengaluru policing ahead of New Year festivities. Police have stressed that strict action will continue against all drug trade operations and urged citizens to report suspicious activity promptly.
