As the anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh”, launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, entered its 47th day, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested 121 drug traffickers and seized 4.7 kg of heroin, 2.6 kg of opium, and ₹1.08 lakh in drug-related cash. With these arrests, the total number of drug smugglers apprehended has risen to 6,284 within just 47 days.
This large-scale operation was carried out simultaneously across all 28 police districts of Punjab, following the directives of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed all Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to intensify efforts to rid Punjab of drugs. In addition, the state government has formed a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee and monitor the anti-drug initiative.
Providing further details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that over 250 police teams, consisting of more than 1,900 personnel and supervised by 88 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 499 locations throughout the state. These efforts led to the registration of 71 FIRs and the questioning of 554 individuals suspected of drug-related activities.
Shukla added that the Punjab government is pursuing a comprehensive three-pronged approach to eliminate drugs—Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP). As part of the de-addiction drive, police teams successfully persuaded seven individuals to begin treatment and rehabilitation.