Punjab Police has intensified its efforts to dismantle high-level drug networks by focusing on major drug suppliers and kingpins responsible for fueling the narcotics trade in the state, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.
"We are not limiting our efforts to merely apprehending street-level drug peddlers and smugglers," stated DGP Yadav. "Our teams are now conducting rigorous interrogations of arrested individuals to trace and identify the masterminds behind the narcotics trade in Punjab."
This development follows the DGP’s directive to all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to identify and compile detailed records of major drug suppliers operating in their respective districts within a seven-day timeframe.
Yadav highlighted the significant impact of the Punjab Government’s anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashian Virudh,' launched on March 1.
As part of this initiative, law enforcement authorities have arrested 4,142 drug smugglers and registered 2,384 First Information Reports (FIRs) across the state. Additionally, police have seized 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 cash from drug traffickers.
The ongoing crackdown has significantly reduced the street-level availability of narcotics, compelling the police to shift their focus toward dismantling the larger supply chain. Officers have been tasked with personally overseeing a comprehensive mapping exercise to document drug suppliers operating in their jurisdictions.
This initiative involves analysing interrogation reports, gathering intelligence inputs, incorporating data from the Safe Punjab Helpline, and leveraging backward and forward linkages revealed through investigations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
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DGP Yadav also announced the formation of 'Mohalla Committees' in urban areas, modeled after the successful Village Defense Committees (VDCs) established in rural border regions.
These VDCs, composed of trusted and prominent individuals from local communities, have played a crucial role in supporting Punjab Police’s anti-drug initiatives by acting as vigilant informants and collaborators.
"Just as VDCs have bolstered rural policing, Mohalla Committees will empower urban communities to take an active role in combating the drug menace," said Yadav. He emphasised that community participation is essential in eradicating drug-related issues from the state.
Additionally, the DGP urged citizens to make maximum use of the Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline (9779100200) to report drug trafficking activities anonymously.
He reiterated that public cooperation remains vital in the fight against narcotics and assured that the Punjab Police would continue its relentless crackdown on the drug trade to safeguard the state's future.
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