Lahore: In a sweeping response to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative for a drug-free province, the Punjab Police have significantly ramped up their anti-drug efforts, resulting in the arrest of 54,707 suspects and the registration of 48,684 cases throughout the year.

According to Punjab Police, this year’s operations have seen an aggressive expansion, with law enforcement conducting 88,192 raids on known drug dens across Punjab under the supervision of IG Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar. These efforts have yielded a large haul of illegal substances, including 29,764 kilograms of charas, 837 kilograms of heroin, 1,348 kilograms of opium, 365 kilograms of ice, and over 800,000 liters of alcohol. In addition to the narcotics seized, 1,265 individuals struggling with addiction have been placed in rehabilitation programs.

In Lahore alone, the provincial capital, police carried out 8,091 targeted operations against drug trafficking locations. These actions led to the arrest of 8,362 individuals and the initiation of 8,090 legal cases. Specific seizures in Lahore included 6,101 kilograms of charas, 251 kilograms of heroin, 304 kilograms of opium, 148 kilograms of ice, and 56,525 liters of alcohol.

Dr. Usman Anwar has ordered an intensification of these operations, particularly targeting the networks involved in the purchase, sale, online distribution, smuggling, and consumption of narcotics. He emphasized the importance of daily search operations around educational institutions and hostels to prevent drug proliferation among youth and ensure a stringent response to drug-related offenses.