Continuing the anti-drug campaign “War Against Drugs” launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police conducted raids at 543 locations today, registering 71 FIRs and arresting 118 drug traffickers. With this, the total number of traffickers arrested in 12 days has reached 1,658.
During these operations, the police seized 994 grams of heroin, 4,633 intoxicating pills/capsules/injections, and ₹1.47 lakh in drug money.
This operation was conducted simultaneously in all 28 police districts of Punjab under the directives of Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has instructed Police Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to make Punjab a drug-free state within the next three months. The Punjab government has also formed a five-member Cabinet sub-committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to monitor this campaign.
Providing details about the operation, Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla stated that more than 1,600 police personnel formed over 250 teams, operating under the supervision of 102 senior officers to conduct raids across the state. During the day-long operation, 659 suspicious individuals were checked.
He further mentioned that Punjab Police has developed a comprehensive strategy and such operations will continue until drug abuse is completely eradicated from the state.
The Punjab government has implemented a three-tier strategy - Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) to combat drug abuse. Under the “De-addiction” initiative, 19 individuals have been encouraged to seek treatment and rehabilitation, while under the “Prevention” initiative, 154 awareness programs were conducted across the state today.
Additionally, police teams inspected 281 medical stores in Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana Commissionerate, Ludhiana Rural, Khanna, and Malerkotla districts to ensure compliance with regulations and prevent the illegal sale of intoxicating pills or other narcotic substances.