Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 171st day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 452 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 151 drug smugglers after registration of 111 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 26,542 in 171 days. 

The raids have resulted in recovery of 1.5 kg heroin, 3122 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 28,990 from the possession of arrested drug smugglers. 

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state. 

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs. 

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1100 police personnel, under the supervision of 76 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 425 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added. 

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of 'De-addiction’ has convinced 84 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.