443 arrested in cases related to drugs this year: Panchkula police

As part of their efforts to crack down on drug abuse and illegal liquor smuggling, Panchkula police arrested a total of 443 people in 256 cases throughout the year.

Advertisement

The police arrested 223 accused in 116 cases related to drug smuggling, seizing a large quantity of illicit substances, including 113 kg ganja, 3.8 kg hashish, 4.5 kg opium, 1.92 kg heroin, 33 kg poppy husk, and 10 kg opium plants. Besides, more than 10,459 banned pills were confiscated in the operations.

A major highlight of the year was the police’s efforts in controlling illegal alcohol smuggling, with 218 individuals also being arrested in 140 cases of liquor smuggling. A total of 9,922 litre illicit alcohol recovered.

The crackdown came as a part of intensified efforts by Panchkula’s Anti-Narcotics Cell under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police Himadri Kaushik. The Anti-Narcotics Cell, alongside other crime branches and local police teams, used a combination of intelligence-based operations, surveillance, and secret information to target the narcotics trade.

Following the increasing prevalence of narcotic substances among youth, Commissioner of Police Rakesh Kumar Arya emphasised on a holistic approach, combining both punitive and preventive measures.

He launched the “Drug and Violence Free My Village, My Pride” campaign, which aimed to tackle addiction at its grassroots level. Under the campaign, Inspector Rajesh Kumari and her team have been visiting villages across Panchkula, identifying drug addicts, providing hospital treatment, and offering psychological support to those in need.

“We cannot ignore the growing trend of drug abuse, especially among the youth,” the Commissioner said, adding, “This is not just a law-and-order issue, but a social challenge affecting families and society as a whole. Through our awareness programs, raids, and rehabilitation efforts, we are working hard to get affected individuals the help they need. We also call upon citizens to report any information about drug abuse, with the assurance of complete confidentiality.”

Besdides field operations, Panchkula police also conducted awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and other public spaces to educate residents on the dangers of drug addiction. The initiatives aimed to break the stigma associated with seeking help, encouraging people to approach authorities for assistance.