Punjab Police Intensifies Focus on Major Drug Traffickers

Synopsis

Chandigarh, March 27 (NationPress) Punjab Police is intensifying efforts to dismantle high-level drug networks, targeting major drug suppliers and kingpins. The crackdown is part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', which has already led to thousands of arrests and significant recoveries of narcotics, according to DGP Gaurav Yadav.

Key Takeaways

Punjab Police shifting focus to major drug traffickers.
Campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ has led to 4,142 arrests.
Significant narcotics recoveries reported, including 146.3 kg of heroin.
Establishment of mohalla committees to combat drug issues.
Public encouraged to report drug activity via ‘Safe Punjab Helpline’.

Chandigarh, March 27 (NationPress) Following a significant decline in the street availability of drugs due to a rigorous crackdown under the ongoing anti-drug initiative ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, the Punjab Police is now concentrating on dismantling the high-level drug trafficking networks by targeting major players, including suppliers and kingpins who are driving the narcotics trade in the state, stated Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav during a press briefing here on Thursday.

"Our efforts are not limited to apprehending street-level drug dealers or smugglers. Teams from the Punjab Police are now thoroughly interrogating all arrested individuals involved in drug dealing to uncover and identify the significant players in the narcotics supply chain within the state,” DGP Yadav remarked while addressing the media.

This initiative follows DGP Punjab's directive to all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to identify and document the primary drug suppliers and dealers in their respective districts within a week.

DGP Yadav reported that the anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, which was launched by the Punjab Government on March 1, has led to the arrest of 4,142 drug traffickers following the filing of 2,384 first information reports (FIRs) throughout the state. This has resulted in the recovery of 146.3 kg of heroin, 85.3 kg of opium, 19.95 quintals of poppy husk, 7.69 lakh intoxicant tablets and capsules, 1 kg of ICE, and Rs 5.83 crore in drug money from those arrested.

The continued crackdown has significantly reduced street-level drug availability, prompting police to shift their focus to the major players behind the supply chain.

He further mentioned that all CPs and SSPs have been directed to personally oversee the mapping process to compile details of the suppliers distributing drugs in their areas, based on interrogation reports, public tips, intelligence data, information from the ‘Safe Punjab Helpline’, and the linkages revealed during criminal investigations under the NDPS Act.

In addition, DGP Yadav noted that inspired by the success of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), the Punjab Police is now planning to establish mohalla committees in urban regions as part of their intensified campaign against drugs.

Notably, VDCs, which consist of reliable and well-respected individuals from border villages, have been functioning as the eyes and ears of the police, aiding in their efforts to eliminate drugs from the state.

"Just as VDCs have strengthened rural policing in border areas, these mohalla committees will empower urban communities to collectively combat the drug issue,” DGP Yadav emphasized, underlining the importance of citizen involvement in eradicating the drug crisis from the state.

The DGP also expressed gratitude to the citizens for their support of the Punjab Police in making this drug eradication drive successful, urging them to utilize the ‘Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline’ ‘9779100200’ to report drug traffickers anonymously.