Chandigarh, April 23
The Punjab government on Thursday said that its anti-drug drive has entered a more aggressive phase, with fresh data showing a sharp rise in cases, arrests and seizures under the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign. Sharing details, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the campaign reflects a more focused and intelligence-driven approach. He added that authorities are applying pressure across the entire network, from suppliers to local distributors.
Since 2022, more than 73,000 cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act—a notable increase compared with the previous five-year period. The arrests have also climbed significantly, reflecting what officials describe as sustained action against drug networks.
The Police officials said that the scale of seizures points to deeper penetration into supply chains. Heroin recoveries have surged, while opium seizures have also increased. Synthetic drugs, particularly crystal meth, have seen a sharp rise, indicating a growing focus on emerging narcotics.
Enforcement agencies have also targeted pharmaceutical drug misuse, recovering large quantities of tablets and capsules as part of efforts to disrupt supply lines linked to addiction.
Officials further said that the crackdown is yielding stronger results in courts, with conviction rates rising to nearly 90%. They attribute this to improved investigation methods and better coordination between enforcement and prosecution agencies. The initiative is being led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who has made tackling drug abuse a key priority of his administration.
While enforcement has intensified, the government says its broader aim is to dismantle drug networks and reduce availability at the community level, ensuring long-term impact beyond arrests and seizures.
