16,000 smugglers jailed, 627 kg heroin seized; drug syndicates’ financial backbone broken: Punjab police

The freezing of illegally acquired properties and seizure of drug money from arrested drug smugglers have given a substantial setback to the economic infrastructure of drug smugglers and their network, effectively disrupting their funding channels and undermining their operational capacity, he added.

During 100 days of the campaign, the Special DGP said that Punjab Police has registered 9,693 FIRs and arrested 16,533 drug smugglers and recovered 627 kg heroin, 252 kg opium, 15 tonnes poppy husk, 9 kg charas, 264 kg ganja, 2.7 kg ICE, 2.6 kg cocaine and 26.51 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets from their possession.

The Special DGP said that Punjab Police on Monday arrested 127 drug smugglers and recovered 4.1 kg heroin, 20 kg poppy husk and ?2.20 lakhs drug money from their possession.

Over 200 police teams, comprising over 1400 police personnel, under the supervision of 90 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 466 locations across the state leading to the registration of 99 FIRs, he said, while adding that police teams have also checked as many as 489 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

Separately, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the anti-drug drive has transcended into a people’s movement, with citizens providing information against drug traffickers.

Cheema said the cabinet sub-committee, formed to monitor the anti-drug drive, took decisions to establish robust arrangements for the treatment of drug addicts.

The decisions included the immediate recruitment of 200 psychologists on a temporary basis for six months, with the health department tasked to secure permanent recruitment in the interim.

Additionally, psychiatrists will be empanelled across various districts as required, receiving Rs 3,000 for two hours daily to provide essential assistance to individuals striving to overcome addiction, Cheema said.

The sub-committee has also directed the health department to submit a comprehensive proposal within a week for the recruitment of all necessary health staff.