Punjab’s anti-drug war nets 19880 arrests statewide

With the ongoing decisive war against drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has completed four months, Punjab Police has registered 12135 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 19880 drug smugglers leading to the recovery of 786 kg heroin since March 1, 2025.

Since the launch of this anti-drug drive, Punjab Police, under the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, has been conducting operations daily simultaneously in all the 28 Police districts of the state. Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had 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 Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who has been personally overseeing the operations, revealed that apart from the 786 kg haul of heroin, police have also seized 301 kg opium, 158 quintals poppy husk, 11 kg charas, 300 kg ganja, 2.9 kg ICE, 27.99 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets, and ₹11.58 crore drug money.

Sharing details of outcome of Day 122, the Special DGP said that Punjab Police has arrested 128 drug smugglers and recovered 4.1 kg heroin, 3.5 kg opium, 10 kg poppy husk, 13667 intoxicant pills and ₹1.25 lakh drug money from their possession.

Over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1300 police personnel, under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 418 locations across the state leading to the registration of 92 first information reports (FIRs) across the state, he said, while adding that police teams have also checked as many as 428 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

Meanwhile, 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 76 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.