In a high-profile crackdown, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), working with Barmer police, arrested interstate narcotics trafficker Jaswant alias Jasiya and his associate Narayanram from Baldev Nagar, Barmer city on Wednesday. Jaswant carried a reward of Rs 30,000, while Narayanram had a reward of Rs 5,000.
Police seized a luxury vehicle, a pistol with 55 cartridges, Rs 10.76 lakh in cash, approximately 440 grams of opium milk, and three mobile phones from Jaswant. From Narayanram, authorities recovered a Scorpio vehicle and a mobile phone.
ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar said intelligence indicated that Jaswant was in Baldev Nagar, preparing to transport doda post from Chittorgarh. Acting on this information and under the guidance of Additional Director General MN Dinesh, the team launched “Operation Mona Return”, resulting in the arrests.
Jaswant, a resident of the Baytu police station area, is known by multiple aliases including Jasraj, Jaswant, Jasaram, and Jasiya. After completing Class 12, he worked as a driver, then entered the illegal liquor trade, and later moved into narcotics trafficking, operating supply routes from Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh to Jodhpur, Barmer, and nearby regions.
Authorities noted that Jaswant had previously been arrested in June 2024, obtaining a 30-day interim bail citing his wife’s illness after nearly nine months in jail. He failed to return to prison on April 23, 2025, and went absconding. Assistance from one of his associates provided crucial intelligence for planning the raid.
Jaswant has a long criminal history, with his first NDPS case registered in 2005, followed by around 15 cases from 2010 onwards. By 2024, authorities had announced rewards totaling Rs 1.10 lakh for his arrest across three locations. He has previously escaped custody and fired on police, injuring personnel at Gudha Endla, Tibbi, and Devgarh.
Officials confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated, and the investigation into his narcotics network and weapons cache is ongoing.
