Kochi: The Kochi City police launched a major anti-drug drive on Saturday night, registering 30 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for alleged possession and use of narcotic substances. The operation, which covered several city zones, led to the seizure of small quantities of various suspected drugs.

According to police sources, 140 individuals were booked for drunk driving, and 28 separate cases were filed under the Abkari Act for offences including the illegal storage and transport of liquor.

District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya confirmed on Sunday that action had been taken against 212 offenders as part of the operation. “The drive will continue in the coming days,” he said, adding that the focus was on maintaining strict surveillance in nightlife zones and bar hotels hosting DJ parties.

The initiative is part of an intensified weekend enforcement effort aimed at curbing drug use, illegal liquor trade, and road offences. Authorities have stated that the campaign will be sustained across coming weekends to address the rising trend of substance-related cases in urban areas.

The Kochi City police have been stepping up operations against narcotics and related offences in recent months, with special weekend drives yielding consistent arrests. The latest operation on November 8 saw coordinated checks at major traffic junctions, entertainment venues, and coastal stretches.

Police sources said that the narcotic substances recovered during the latest sweep were in small but varied quantities, classified under different categories of the NDPS Act. The seized materials have been sent for forensic analysis.

The 140 drunk driving cases were booked after extensive breathalyser checks conducted across multiple checkpoints. The 28 Abkari Act cases involved unauthorised possession and transport of liquor, reflecting an ongoing parallel crackdown on unlicensed distribution.

Authorities believe that the increased surveillance of DJ parties and late-night bars has helped curb the spread of synthetic drug use in Kochi’s nightlife scene. The City police, under the leadership of Putta Vimaladitya, have pledged to sustain these targeted enforcement efforts to deter both suppliers and users of illegal substances.

The police have also appealed to citizens to report suspicious activities related to drug sales and consumption through confidential helplines.