‘Anti-drug drive forced smugglers to flee homes; addicts flocking for treatment’: Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav

Our focus has been on a dual strategy of demand reduction and choking supply. This involves not allowing drugs to hit the streets. Intelligence reports and addict surveys indicate a 1.5 times increase in street-level drug prices, suggesting a significant choke in the supply chain, resulting from intensified enforcement efforts. Repeated, targeted, and effective operations have compelled numerous notorious drug smugglers to abandon their homes and flee, disrupting local networks and diminishing their operational capacity. The campaign has effectively disrupted street-level drug supply chains through arrests, seizures, and targeted operations against major suppliers. Citizen reports and intelligence indicate a noticeable reduction in drug availability, especially heroin. Additionally, a district-level mapping initiative aims to guide targeted interventions by identifying prevalent drugs in each area. The focus has now shifted towards dismantling higher-level networks fueling the narcotics trade.

Has there been any increase in drug addicts queueing at de-addiction centres?

Between February and March 2025, new registrations at OOAT Clinics surged by 70.47%, while footfall rose by 12.53%. Distribution of Buprenorphine 2 mg and 0.4 mg also increased by 10.05% and 12.25% indicating enhanced treatment outreach. Additionally, IPD admissions at government de-addiction centers more than doubled, with a remarkable 100.72%.

What specific strategies have been implemented to target ‘big fish’ drug traders and smugglers in the second phase of the campaign?

About 57 ‘Big fish’ catches have been made since the launch of the campaign and 27 FIRs have been registered. Additionally, police arrested around 4,765 drug smugglers and peddlers and registered 2,851 FIRs under the NDPS Act. Significant quantities of contraband seized from big fish include recoveries around 108 kg of heroin, over 47.8 kg of opium, 1 kg methamphetamine ‘ice’, and approx 6 lakh intoxicating tablets/capsules and around 6 crore drug money 20 Hawala networks have been busted with recoveries surpassing 6 crores, delivering a substantial setback to the economic infrastructure of drug smugglers and their networks, disrupting their funding channels and undermining their operational capacity.

Property forfeiture has been executed in 27 cases, amounting to a total value of over Rs 14.13 crore. Property forfeiture serves as both a psychological deterrent and a financially crippling measure against smugglers, undermining their economic foundations and discouraging further illegal activities. The civil administration, in accordance with the law, has demolished 60 properties of drug smugglers who had encroached on public land in the past one month.

How are you ensuring evidence-based policing to strengthen cases against major drug networks?

A comprehensive district-level mapping initiative is underway to identify suppliers and peddlers. This approach aims to implement targeted action plans to further disrupt supply chains and address the drug menace effectively.

How is the Punjab Police coordinating with central agencies like the NCB and BSF to tackle cross-border drug trafficking?

The Punjab Police is coordinating with NCB and BSF through regular joint meetings, strategic planning, and proposed deployment of 5,000 home guards along the international border to assist BSF operations. Efforts include implementing anti-drone systems to combat cross-border smuggling. Since 2024, 143 joint operations by Punjab Police and BSF have resulted in the seizure of 133 kg of heroin in which smugglers employed various methods, including drone dropping, throwing, and floating, to transport narcotics across the border.

The Punjab Police is coordinating with the NCB. The detention of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in Assam Jail exemplifies the efficacy of this collaborative effort.

What steps are being taken to address allegations of inadequate cooperation from central agencies?

Concerns about inadequate cooperation from BSF were raised but are unfounded as enhanced communication and synergy between agencies has been prioritised to strengthen joint operations and coordination against drug trafficking.

What are the biggest challenges faced by the Punjab Police in dismantling the drug supply chain, especially in border districts?

A significant challenge faced by the Punjab Police is that many major drug smugglers are stationed abroad in countries such as Canada, Pakistan, Europe, Southeast Asian countries and the USA. The lengthy and complex extradition processes associated with these jurisdictions pose considerable difficulties in ensuring that these individuals are brought to justice.

Drug trafficking in Punjab is predominantly sponsored and supported by Pakistan, with the ISI actively attempting to destabilise the region’s peace and security. This external involvement significantly complicates efforts to dismantle narcotics networks operating along the border. The current anti-drone technology deployed along the Indo-Pak border remains insufficient to fully counter the sophisticated and evolving methods used by smugglers. The use of encrypted communication channels by drug traffickers significantly complicates interception efforts, making it challenging for law enforcement agencies to monitor, trace, and dismantle narcotics networks effectively.

The use of dead letter box techniques in hawala networks adds another layer of complexity to dismantling these systems, as it allows traffickers to exchange information or money without direct contact, making detection and interception exceedingly difficult. Efforts are being strengthened to enhance technological solutions and bolster manpower in jails, aiming to prevent unauthorised communication and curb illicit activities.

How are you addressing the reported nexus between drug smugglers and rogue police personnel?

Police personnel found involved in NDPS cases will be treated as criminals. A case in point is the woman constable arrested under NDPS Act in Bathinda was dismissed from service the very next day.

How is the Punjab Police engaging with local communities and village-level committees to support the anti-drug campaign?

Since the launch of the special campaign, 2614 awareness programmes have been conducted, involving local politicians, community leaders, students, schools, and the general public and 274 meetings of SAMPARK at the village level.

What new strategies are being developed to sustain the momentum of ‘War on Drugs’ beyond the current phase?
Individuals released on bail are kept under strict surveillance through regular patrolling and check-ups, aimed at deterring them from resuming drug-related activities after their release.

Targeted raids are being conducted to apprehend pending absconders, with efforts underway to obtain court-issued proclamations against them, enhancing legal pressure and accountability.

Individuals using force against the police are met with a iron hand, with appropriate legal proceedings promptly initiated to ensure accountability and uphold law enforcement authority.