The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has carried out a big interstate enforcement operation and seized almost 66.8 lakh psychotropic tablets as part of Operation Vajra 2.0 in Punjab-Himachal Pradesh.
One person was arrested in Chandigarh-Baddi area of Punjab-Himachal Pradesh on August 31, reports said. The seizure is being viewed as a significant intervention against the illegal diversion of controlled drugs.
According to initial reports, the operation was initiated by CBN’s Madhya Pradesh unit after intelligence inputs indicated the movement of a large consignment of psychotropic medicines.
A specialised team maintained surveillance along the interstate route and followed a truck registered in Uttar Pradesh on August 27. The vehicle was later taken to a secure location where officials conducted a detailed search of its cargo.
The search led to the recovery of 120 master cartons containing 66,79,980 tablets, according to reports. The seized consignment included several controlled pharmaceutical substances. Problems with the packaging and documentation associated with the shipment raised concerns over the apparent diversion of the medicines from legitimate supply channels, the government said.
According to officials, batch numbers, manufacturing dates and expiry information had been removed from a number of blister strips and boxes.
Some of the medicines also had restrictions that indicated they were not to be sold in Punjab and Haryana, although the consignment was being transported through the region. As part of the larger investigation into the suspected diversion network, investigators are now looking into the discrepancies.
The shipment was also being transported without any invoices, bills or e-way documentation, the newspaper reported. As soon as the discovery was made, officials went through a detailed inventory and sealing procedure, which lasted more than 14 hours. The seized consignment and truck were subsequently detained and formally seized according to the NDPS Act 1985.
The truck driver's arrest is only part of the investigation; CBN officials are attempting to trace the wider network involved in the suspected diversion, including the source where the medicines originated and the intended distribution channels. But investigators are also looking at whether other individuals or entities were involved in arranging or transporting the consignment.
The operation is part of a wider enforcement campaign by the CBN against the illegal diversion of pharmaceuticals and narcotics. The agency has been using intelligence-led investigations to identify suspicious supply chains and prevent controlled medicines from entering unauthorized channels. Operation Vajra has already resulted in major investigations into suspected synthetic-drug manufacturing and diversion networks.
The seizure also underlines the importance of monitoring the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain. Controlled medicines have legitimate medical applications if prescribed and supplied through authorized channels, but unauthorized diversion can raise major public-health and law-enforcement concerns. Accordingly, regulators and enforcement agencies closely monitor the movement of certain pharmaceutical substances.
CBN's action is also in line with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, under which enforcement agencies have taken action against drug cartels. In 2026, the CBN has registered hundreds of cases and made numerous arrests while also taking action against illegal manufacturing facilities.
The investigation of the latest seizure, however, continues. The arrest of one person does not establish guilt and the allegations will be reviewed in court. The investigation should examine the origin, transportation and intended destination of the seized medicines before the investigation can be broadened.
Operation Vajra 2.0 shows how intelligence gathering, interstate coordination and targeted enforcement can be used to disrupt suspected illegal diversion networks.
Recovering almost 66.8 lakh tablets is an enormous seizure and could provide investigators with valuable clues to the supply chain and how the consignment came into the importer. As the investigation continues, authorities will be looking for other parties associated with the suspected network and possibly how the controlled medicines entered the diversion chain.
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