Punjab Police Achieves 89% Conviction Rate in Drug Smuggling Cases: DGP
The North News
Chandigarh, April 28
In a significant blow to drug smuggling networks, the Punjab Police has reported an 89 percent conviction rate in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since March 1, 2025. The announcement was made by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Monday, during a press conference at the Punjab Police Headquarters. This conviction rate is among the highest in the country.
Since the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, Punjab Police has achieved substantial progress, with 836 NDPS Act cases decided in the state, resulting in 744 convictions. Among those convicted, 144 drug kingpins were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years or more, signaling the state’s firm stance on combating drug trafficking.
DGP Yadav highlighted the urgency of the state’s zero-tolerance approach under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, who has set a goal to eliminate drug availability by May 31, 2025. As part of this mission, police chiefs across the state have been tasked with ensuring that drug-free zones are achieved in their jurisdictions by the target date. On Tuesday, SSPs and CPs will present their respective action plans to meet the ambitious deadline.
“The focus is on dismantling supply chains and breaking down networks, not just meeting figures,” said Yadav. He added that any claims of success will be rigorously verified with intelligence sources post-May 31, with accountability ensured for underperformance or false reporting.
As part of the effort, the police are utilizing a three-pronged strategy to dismantle the financial foundations of drug smuggling: cracking down on hawala networks, freezing assets, and demolishing illegal properties. So far, 31 hawala operators have been arrested, and ₹8.03 crore in drug money seized. Additionally, ₹32.95 crore worth of assets linked to 81 smugglers have been frozen, severely disrupting their operations.
The Punjab Police has also urged citizens to contribute to the fight against drugs by using the Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline (9779100200) to report traffickers anonymously. As of now, the helpline has led to the arrest of 659 people and the registration of 503 FIRs.
Notably, in alignment with the compassionate approach toward drug users, 689 individuals caught with small quantities of drugs have been sent to de-addiction centers for rehabilitation, instead of jail time, as part of a reformative strategy.
Since the start of the campaign, 7414 drug smugglers have been arrested, including 1877 major figures, and significant drug hauls have been recovered, including 297 kg of heroin, 153 kg of opium, 21.77 lakh pills, and ₹8.03 crore in drug money.
With targeted operations and zero tolerance for violence against officers, DGP Yadav emphasized the importance of public cooperation in breaking the cycle of drug abuse and trafficking in the state.
