Mumbai Police Remove 1,497 Illegal Paan Shops in July Drug Crackdown
The Mumbai Police have intensified action against unauthorised paan shops across the city as part of the ongoing 'Drug-Free Mumbai' campaign. During July 2026, law enforcement personnel removed a total of 1,497 illegal paan shops operating across various divisions. The primary objective of the campaign is to curb the production, supply, trafficking, and sale of narcotic substances, while safeguarding the younger generation from falling prey to addiction.
The overarching initiative was launched by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with the goal of creating a drug-free city through collective participation and public awareness. Under the campaign, authorities aim to prevent youngsters from getting involved with narcotics and to eliminate drug-related activities from Mumbai's neighbourhoods.
Special emphasis during the crackdown has been placed on removing unauthorised paan kiosks that operate in and around school and college premises. Law enforcement authorities noted that such establishments can provide easy access to tobacco and other intoxicating substances for students and young residents.
Police data reveals that removal actions were executed across multiple jurisdictions in the city during July 2026. A breakdown of the figures shows that action was taken against 480 unauthorised shops in the Northern Regional Division and another 480 shops in the Central Regional Division. In the Southern Regional Division, 199 shops were removed, while 173 shops were cleared in the Eastern Regional Division, and 165 shops were targeted in the Western Regional Division.
Alongside direct enforcement actions against illegal structures, the Mumbai Police are conducting regular awareness programmes to educate citizens, particularly young people, regarding the severe hazards of drug abuse and addiction.
The special campaign is being executed under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The police department confirmed that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding drug trafficking and sales, reiterating its commitment to taking strict, continuous action against all entities involved in the illegal narcotics trade to ensure effective implementation of the initiative.
