Karachi: District Central Police on Thursday released its performance report for the first six months of 2026, highlighting extensive operations against street crime, organised gangs, narcotics and smuggling, during which 523 street criminals were arrested and 38 suspects were killed in police encounters.
According to the report, the police conducted 251 encounters with street criminals between January 1 and June 30. During these operations, 38 suspects were killed, 269 were arrested in injured condition and 254 were apprehended without injuries.
As part of its campaign against illegal weapons, the district police registered 710 cases and arrested 666 suspects. The recoveries included 683 pistols, eight rifles, one shotgun, seven repeaters and 1,673 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.
The report said the police dismantled 159 criminal gangs during the six-month period, while also arresting 294 repeat offenders and 173 vehicle thieves involved in car and motorcycle-related crimes.
Police also recovered property snatched from citizens, including 11 vehicles, 334 motorcycles, 570 mobile phones and cash amounting to Rs200 million, which was returned to the rightful owners.
During the reporting period, the district police arrested 52 proclaimed offenders and 319 absconders in separate operations.
The report further stated that anti-smuggling operations led to the seizure of 3,134 kilograms of betel nut, 476 packets of Aadab gutka, 4,800 litres of diesel and petrol, 1,000 kilograms of dry milk, 600 kilograms of monosodium, 72 packets of Indian gutka, 109 bundles of cigarettes, 15 bundles of assorted cigarettes, 10 packets of Safeena gutka, 20 billion Iranian rials, 21 boxes and 11 packets of supplementary protein. Nine vehicles, one Hino truck and five rickshaws were taken into custody and handed over to Pakistan Customs and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), while 62 cases were registered.
In its anti-narcotics drive, the police registered 414 cases and arrested 490 suspects. Recoveries included 90 kilograms of hashish, 1.83 kilograms of heroin, 6.32 kilograms of ice (crystal methamphetamine), 0.66 kilograms of crystal, 1.7 kilograms of Qandania and 587 bottles of liquor.
The report added that, under a special campaign against gutka and mawa, police registered 554 cases, arrested 709 suspects and sealed or dismantled 18 factories and production units. Recoveries included 588.5 kilograms of gutka and mawa, 2,150 kilograms of betel nut, 80 kilograms of tobacco, 37 kilograms of catechu, 72 kilograms of lime and 17 digital weighing scales.
The report said the district Central Police carried out coordinated and indiscriminate operations against street criminals, drug peddlers, smugglers, gutka and mawa mafia and other lawbreakers during the first half of 2026 to curb crime, protect the lives and property of citizens and maintain law and order.