Punjab Police’s Decisive War Against Drugs: 15 Months of Progress

In the ongoing battle against the drug menace in Punjab, the state’s police force has made significant strides in the past 15 months, following the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Since July 5, 2022, the Punjab Police has apprehended 20,979 drug traffickers, including 3,003 major players in the illicit drug trade. During this period, a total of 15,434 FIRs have been registered, with 1,864 of them pertaining to trading activities.

IGP Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill addressed a press conference, providing details of the remarkable achievements in the fight against drugs. Police operations, including cordon and search operations, have resulted in the recovery of a substantial amount of narcotics. Specifically, the police have seized 1,510.55 kg of heroin within drug-affected regions of the state. Additionally, Punjab Police teams have intercepted 147.5 kg of heroin being transported through ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The cumulative recovery of heroin stands at an impressive 1,658.05 kg in just 15 months.

In addition to the heroin seizures, the police have also confiscated 924.29 kg of opium, 986.06 kg of ganja, 470.91 quintals of bhukki, and a staggering 92.03 lakh pills, capsules, vaccines, and vials across the state. These operations have also led to the confiscation of drug money totaling Rs 15.81 crore from apprehended drug smugglers.

Furthermore, the Punjab Police has taken action against prominent drug smugglers by seizing their properties worth Rs 88.3 crore. Notably, the highest value of confiscated properties, amounting to Rs 40.3 crore, was recorded in Jalandhar Rural district, followed by Rs 12.06 crore in Tarn Taran district and Rs 6.16 crore in Ferozepur.

Providing a weekly update on recent activities, the IGP reported that, in the last week alone, 185 FIRs were registered, including 21 related to drug-related business cases. During this period, 260 drug traffickers and suppliers were arrested, and law enforcement seized 15.82 kg of heroin, 6.13 kg of opium, 6.38 quintals of bhukki, along with 43,388 pills, capsules, vaccines, and pharma opioids. Additionally, drug money worth Rs 4.11 lakh was recovered.

The crackdown on criminals includes efforts to apprehend proclaimed offenders (POs) and fugitives involved in NDPS cases. Over the last week, 13 more individuals were arrested, bringing the total number of arrests under this special drive since July 5, 2022, to 1,111.

The Punjab Police has also focused on improving law and order in the state. Since Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann took office, the police have arrested 197 terrorists and radicals and dismantled 31 terrorist modules. These operations have resulted in the recovery of 32 rifles, 222 revolvers/pistols, 9 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 10.86 kg of RDX, and other explosives, as well as 11 hand grenades, two sleeves of disposed rocket launchers, 73 drones, and a loaded rocket-propelled grenade.

Additionally, the newly-formed Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has made significant progress, arresting 800 gangsters and criminals and neutralizing 6 of them. Law enforcement has also recovered 839 weapons and 171 vehicles used in criminal activities from their possession.

In conclusion, the Punjab Police, under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has undertaken a relentless effort to combat drug trafficking and maintain law and order in the state, resulting in significant achievements in the fight against drugs and organized crime.