101 Drug Smugglers Arrested with 15.9 Kg Heroin; ₹25.52 Lakh Drug Money Recovered in Punjab
109 Individuals Opt for De-addiction Treatment as Police Intensify Crackdown
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 22, 2025 –
In a significant crackdown under the ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian De Virudh’, the Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 101 drug smugglers and seized 15.9 kg heroin, 102 kg poppy husk, and ₹25.52 lakh in drug money during state-wide operations. This takes the total number of arrests in the last 82 days of the campaign to 12,650.
The coordinated operation was carried out across all 28 police districts on the directions of DGP Gaurav Yadav, following the mandate of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to make Punjab a drug-free state.
As part of the state's three-pronged Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) strategy, 109 individuals were persuaded by police teams to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment on the same day.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 police teams comprising 1300+ personnel and supervised by 87 gazetted officers raided 460 locations and registered 79 FIRs. Police also checked nearly 500 suspicious individuals during the extensive day-long operation.
The Punjab government has set up a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee the progress of the campaign and ensure inter-departmental coordination.
The government continues to stress the importance of both strict enforcement and proactive rehabilitation to tackle the drug menace at its roots.