War against drugs: In 72 days, 10,444 drug smugglers arrested

Punjab’s war against drugs, “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, has completed 72 days, with the state police registering 6,280 first information reports (FIRs) and arresting 10,444 drug smugglers since March 1.

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla revealed that police teams had so far recovered 398 kg of heroin, 186 kg of opium, 117 quintals of poppy husk, 8 kg of charas, 135 kg of ganja, 2.5 kg of ICE, 1.2 kg of cocaine, 23.57 lakh intoxicant pills and tablets and ₹8.58 crore in drug money.

On Day 72 of the operation, cops arrested 133 drug smugglers and seized 2.2 kg of heroin, 54 kg of poppy husk, 73,000 intoxicant pills and ₹13.22 lakh in drug money. Over 250 police teams, involving more than 1,400 personnel and supervised by 90 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 495 locations across the state, resulting in the registration of 89 FIRs. Additionally, police teams checked 503 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

He said the state government had enforced a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, de-addiction, and prevention (EDP). As part of the de-addiction efforts, the Punjab Police has successfully convinced 104 individuals to undergo rehabilitation and treatment.