485 drugs peddlers arrested, 387 cases registered since March 16

Chandigarh, March 28

As many as 485 drugs peddlers and traders have been arrested and 387 cases registered under the NDPS Act, since Capt Amarinder Singh-led government assumed office.

Heroin weighing 3.945 kg and 622.555 kg of poppy husk have been recovered in the state since March 16.

Drug menace was a major issue in the Punjab elections and immediately after taking over, the Amarinder-led Congress government has ordered a multi-agency crack-down.

SHO level teams, backed by Anti-Narcotics Cell units, have been formed in every district to wipe out drugs from the state in four weeks, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said here on Tuesday.

“As many as 485 drugs traders and peddlers have been arrested and 387 cases registered under the NDPS Act..,” he said.

Giving more details, he said that in the period between March 16 and March 27, a total of 3.945 kgs of heroin was recovered during raids. This includes 1 kg of Heroin seized by the BSF, he said.

Other drugs seizures made during this period include poppy husk (622.555 kgs), smack (0.528 kgs), ‘charas’ (2.22 kgs), opium (24.39 kgs), ‘bhang’ (1.879 kgs) and ‘ganja’ (65.6 kgs).

The special teams have also recovered 133 bottles of syrup, 1075 injections and 90,993 capsules or pills packed with drugs, besides 11.224 kg of Intoxicant Powder during the period, he said.

“The maximum of 63 cases have been registered in Jalandhar district, from where the maximum recovery of 7.25 kgs of opium, besides 1 kg recovery of heroin by BSF, has also been reported,” he said.

The Congress had before the elections promised to wipe out the scourge within four weeks of forming the government. — PTI