CHANDIGARH, November 18:
In a relentless pursuit to eradicate the drug menace from Punjab as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted a statewide Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug Hotspots— the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances— across the state as part of the Yudh Nashian Virudh, marking the 262nd day of the intensified anti-drug campaign.
The CASO was conducted simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.
During the daylong operation, police teams have conducted raids at 391 identified drug hotspots across the state leading to arrest of 79 persons after registration of 67 first information reports (FIRs). Police teams have also recovered 4.3 kg heroin, 971 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 3.16 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.
Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally overseeing the operation, said that over 400 Police teams, comprising over 3000 police personnel, under the supervision of 79 gazetted officers have conducted this operation.
He informed that the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign launched on March 1, 2025, has resulted in arrest of 36,901 drug smugglers after registration of 24,809 first information reports (FIRs) across the state and led to recovery of 1604 kg heroin, 557 kg opium, 263 quintals poppy husk, 529 kg ganja, 41.39 lakh intoxicant tablets/capsules, 14 kg ICE and Rs 14.42 crores drug money from the possession of drug smugglers.
The state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 45 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.
