CHANDIGARH, January 17:
In a relentless pursuit to eradicate the drug menace from Punjab as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Saturday 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 322nd day of the intensified anti-drug campaign.
The CASO was conducted simultaneously from 11 am to 2 pm in all 28 Police districts of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, and Spl DGP/ADGP/IGP/DIG rank officers from Punjab Police Headquarters, Chandigarh were deputed various districts to personally supervise the operation.
During the daylong operation, police teams have conducted raids at 831 drug hotspots across the state leading to registration of 200 first information reports (FIRs) and arrest of 227 drug smugglers. Police teams have also recovered 745 grams heroin, 1.2 kg opium, 550 grams Ganja, 4935 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 8750 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who visited Mohali to personally oversee the operation at drug hotspots, said that the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign launched on March 1, 2025, has resulted in arrest of 45,028 drug smugglers after registration of 31,370 first information reports (FIRs) across the state and led to recovery of 1961 kg heroin, 607 kg opium, 27.5 quintals poppy husk, 47.57 lakh intoxicant tablets/capsules, 28 kg ICE and Rs 15.4 crores drug money from the possession of drug smugglers.
Apart from arresting over 45000 drug smugglers, the Special DGP said that the Punjab Police has also facilitated the admission of more than 90,000 affected individuals into de-addiction or OOAT centres across the state as part of the prevention. Pertinently, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state.
He informed that the ‘Safe Punjab’ Anti-Drug WhatsApp Chatbot— 97791-00200— launched by the Punjab Government has received an overwhelming response with over 11,591 first information reports (FIRs) registered following the tips from general public. He also exhorted more people to make maximum use of Safe Punjab helpline, which allows to citizens to report drug related activities anonymously.
Meanwhile, 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.
