Punjab Police Raids 180 Bus Stands in Statewide Anti-Drug Operation, Arrests 111 Smugglers, Recovers 41.3 Kg Heroin
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 8, 2025 –
In a major show of force under its ongoing campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh, Punjab Police conducted a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) at 180 bus stands across the state on Tuesday, aimed at intensifying action against drug smuggling networks. The state-level operation was carried out on the 129th day of the anti-drug campaign, launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
As per Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav’s directives, all 28 police districts participated in the synchronized operation. Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla personally monitored the exercise and said that heavy police deployment was ensured at each location, with oversight provided by SP-rank officers.
“Suspicious individuals were thoroughly checked during the operation to disrupt drug trafficking routes and prevent movement of contraband,” said Shukla.
Alongside the bus stand searches, Punjab Police carried out targeted raids at 458 locations across the state, leading to the arrest of 111 drug smugglers. A total of 84 FIRs were registered. With this, the cumulative arrests under Yudh Nashian Virudh have reached 21,026 in just 129 days.
Police teams recovered 41.3 kilograms of heroin, 1.7 kilograms of opium, and ₹23,980 in drug money from those apprehended on Tuesday. Over 200 police teams involving 1,500 personnel and 87 gazetted officers were mobilized, with 473 suspects checked during the day-long operation.
Special DGP Arpit Shukla emphasized that the Punjab Police’s comprehensive strategy—focused on Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP)—will continue until the state is free of drug scourge. As part of the 'de-addiction' pillar, police successfully convinced 83 individuals to enroll in rehabilitation programs on Tuesday alone.
In a parallel crackdown, Punjab Police also conducted intensive search operations at jails in six districts—Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Patiala, Sangrur, and SAS Nagar—to detect any illegal activity. “Every corner of the jail complexes including barracks, kitchens, and washrooms was thoroughly searched,” said Shukla.
Punjab Police reaffirmed its commitment to continue these high-impact operations in the coming days to dismantle drug syndicates and ensure public safety across the state.