 Early Times Report
CHANDIGARH, Dec 27: In a decisive push against Punjab's entrenched drug and organised crime networks, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said the state is decisively turning the tide, citing the arrest of 85,418 drug smugglers over the last three and a half years, an unprecedented 88 percent conviction rate under the NDPS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, and the apprehension of 916 gangsters since January 1, 2025.
Reviewing the performance of the Police department, the Chief Minister noted that sustained enforcement, tighter investigations and zero political interference are translating into outcomes on the ground, marking a clear shift from rhetoric to results in Punjab's long fight against the drug menace.
During the meeting on Saturday, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ever since his government assumed the charge of office 63,053 cases have been registered against the drug smugglers. "In 2025 since the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' was launched 30,144 FIRs have been registered and 40,302 smugglers have been arrested by the Police. This first of its kind drive against the menace was launched on March 1, 2025 and has been successful in checking the drugs to a considerable extent," he noted.
The Chief Minister said that a multi pronged strategy largely based on three principles of enforcement, de-addiction and prevention was formulated to combat the drugs the results of which have been very fruitful. "As per this drive a major crackdown was launched against drug suppliers and the smuggling network was dismantled. Likewise, in the last 3.5 years 5119.94 kg of heroin, 3,458.53 kg opium, 5.82 kg cocaine, 82.04 kg Ice and 4.98 crore capsules along with 52.46 crore drug money has been recovered," he added.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state has accorded the highest priority to the fight against drugs since 2022, adopting a comprehensive, sustained and outcome-oriented approach combining enforcement, financial disruption, technology-enabled policing, conviction certainty, public participation, and humane rehabilitation. "The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Punjab Police, has been at the forefront of implementing this strategy, resulting in measurable and sustained impact across all key indicators," stated the Chief Minister. |
