Punjab’s Anti-Drug Drive Nets Nearly 20,000 Arrests, 786 Kg Heroin in Four Months
Punjab’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Yields Massive Results in 4 Months
CHANDIGARH, July 1, 2025: In a remarkable show of force against the drug menace, Punjab Police have arrested 19,880 drug smugglers and registered 12,135 FIRs over the past four months as part of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (War Against Drugs), an anti-narcotics drive launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. The massive operation has resulted in the seizure of 786 kilograms of heroin, marking one of the largest crackdowns in the state’s history.
The campaign, initiated on March 1, 2025, has become a cornerstone of the state government’s policy to make Punjab a drug-free state, in line with CM Mann’s directive. The drive is being conducted under the strict supervision of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla.
Daily Operations Across 28 Districts
Under the guidance of the DGP, police units across all 28 districts of Punjab have been conducting simultaneous raids daily. Over 200 police teams, comprising more than 1,300 personnel and led by 87 gazetted officers, have covered 418 locations in recent operations. On Day 122 alone, the police arrested 128 drug traffickers, recovering 4.1 kg of heroin, 3.5 kg of opium, 10 kg poppy husk, 13,667 intoxicant pills, and ₹1.25 lakh in drug money.
In total, the Punjab Police have confiscated:
- 786 kg heroin
- 301 kg opium
- 158 quintals of poppy husk
- 11 kg charas
- 300 kg ganja
- 2.9 kg ICE
- 27.99 lakh intoxicant pills and tablets
- ₹11.58 crore in drug-related cash
Three-Pronged EDP Strategy: Enforcement, De-addiction, Prevention
To sustain and expand the fight against drugs, the Punjab government has adopted an EDP strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention. In addition to seizures and arrests, the police are actively promoting rehabilitation and awareness. As part of this, 76 drug users have been convinced to undergo de-addiction treatment.
A 5-member Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has been formed to monitor and streamline the anti-drug campaign. The focus is not just on penalizing offenders, but also on providing help to addicts and disrupting the supply chain of narcotics.
Leadership’s Role and Community Support
CM Bhagwant Mann has repeatedly emphasized the importance of public involvement in eradicating drug abuse. By encouraging anonymous tips and local cooperation, the state police have been able to target high-risk zones and conduct pre-emptive raids.
Special DGP Arpit Shukla, who has been personally overseeing field operations, praised the collaborative efforts of all law enforcement teams and highlighted the urgent need for sustained action against the drug networks. He stated that the crackdown would intensify in the coming months, with greater surveillance and intelligence-based operations.