Punjab Police Launches Massive Anti-Drug Operation, Arrests 290 Smugglers in Statewide Crackdown

March 1:
In a determined effort to rid Punjab of the drug menace, the Punjab Police launched a massive statewide anti-drug operation titled “Yudh Nashian Virudh” on Saturday. The operation, directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, led to the arrest of 290 suspected drug smugglers and the registration of 232 FIRs. This unprecedented crackdown, which lasted for four hours, saw the recovery of a significant quantity of narcotics, including 8.14 kg of heroin, 1.21 kg of opium, 3.5 kg of ganja, 19 kg of poppy husk, 700 grams of charas, and 16,238 intoxicant tablets, pills, and injections. In addition, the police seized ₹8.02 lakh in drug money.

The Chief Minister, determined to transform Punjab into a drug-free state within the next three months, had earlier instructed the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to intensify their efforts against drug networks. Following his directives, the Punjab government also constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to oversee the campaign against narcotics.

Coordinated Statewide Operation
The large-scale operation was meticulously planned and executed by over 900 police teams, comprising more than 8,368 personnel under the supervision of 233 SP/DSP rank officers. DGP Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, who personally monitored the operation, stated that it was conducted simultaneously across all 28 police districts of the state. The operation began at 9 a.m. and concluded at 1 p.m., with senior police officials from the Punjab Police Headquarters in Chandigarh deployed across districts to supervise the action directly.

DGP Yadav highlighted that the Punjab government has developed a comprehensive 360-degree action plan focusing not only on enforcement but also on the rehabilitation of drug users. As part of this plan, police officers have been directed to investigate the forward and backward linkages of all cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Strict actions have been ordered against anyone found to be colluding with drug smugglers.

Focus on Drug Hotspots
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was present at Balongi in SAS Nagar with Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek, revealed that the operation targeted 369 identified drug hotspots across the state. These hotspots were known to serve as points of sale for narcotics and psychotropic substances. The police conducted 798 raids in these areas, leading to the arrest of several key figures in the drug trade. The comprehensive strategy involved cordoning off these hotspots and systematically searching for suspects and illegal substances.

During the operation, police teams checked over 2,000 suspicious individuals and initiated preventive actions against 27 people. In a further success, five proclaimed offenders were also arrested. The police are now focused on dismantling the financial and logistical networks supporting these drug operations. Special DGP Shukla emphasized that such operations would continue until Punjab is free from the scourge of drugs.

Key Arrests and Strategic Impact
The operation saw the involvement of several high-ranking officials, including Special DGP PSPCL Dr. Jitendra Jain, ADGP Traffic AS Rai, ADGP Law and Order SPS Parmar, ADGP State Armed Forces MF Farooqui, and ADGP Internal Security Shive Kumar Verma. Their direct participation underscored the seriousness of the government’s intent to crack down on the drug trade.

The arrested individuals are now being interrogated to extract more information about the larger network of drug smuggling across the state. The police are particularly focused on identifying the main suppliers and their links to cross-border smuggling routes. The recovered drug money is also being traced to uncover the financial channels that fund these operations.

Three-Pronged Strategy Against Drugs
In addition to the enforcement drive, the Punjab government has adopted a three-pronged strategy comprising Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP). This approach aims to not only arrest smugglers and seize drugs but also focus on the rehabilitation of addicts and preventive measures to curb the demand for narcotics. DGP Yadav stated that special rehabilitation programs and awareness campaigns would be rolled out across Punjab to support individuals struggling with addiction.

The state government’s resolve to address the drug issue comprehensively is seen as a major step forward. The success of “Yudh Nashian Virudh” has been welcomed by various sections of society, who view it as a necessary move to restore law and order in the state. The police have assured that similar operations will continue in the coming weeks to ensure that no corner of Punjab remains a safe haven for drug peddlers and smugglers.

Title Tag: Punjab Police Arrests 290 in Major Anti-Drug Crackdown, Recovers Huge Cache of Narcotics
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