153 big drug smugglers held this year: DGP

The Punjab Police have arrested 10,524 drug smugglers, including 153 big fish, after registering 7,686 FIRs in 10 months of the current year. DGP Gaurav Yadav released the figures here on Wednesday.

The data reveals almost 35 drug smugglers were caught every day and at least 25 FIRs lodged daily during this period in the state. The DGP said the Punjab Police had adopted a twin approach to tackle the drug menace, focusing on cracking down on big fish and targeting peddlers at the point of sale. He said the police teams had recovered 790 kg heroin from across the state.

The police teams have also recovered 860 kg opium, 367 quintals of poppy husk, 93 kg charas, 724 kg ganja, 19 kg ICE and 2.90 crore tablets or injections of pharma opioids from across the state, he said, adding that the police have also recovered Rs 13.62 crore drug money from arrested smugglers.

The DGP said they had forfeited properties of 362 big smugglers worth Rs 208 crore since January 1, while 470 cases to freeze properties worth Rs 289 crore are pending with the authorities for approval.