Lahore: As part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for a Drug-Free Punjab, the Punjab Police have significantly ramped up their efforts to combat drug trafficking across the province. These intensified operations have led to substantial drug seizures and arrests, reflecting a committed crackdown under the guidance of IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar.
According to Punjab Police announcement issued on 03 August 2024, recent operations included 300 raids in a single day, resulting in the arrest of 128 individuals linked to drug trafficking, and the registration of 125 cases. The seizures from these raids included 46 kilograms of charas, 4 kilograms of heroin, 16 kilograms of opium, 1 kilogram of ice, and 2,079 liters of liquor. Since the campaign’s initiation on February 26, law enforcement has conducted over 40,000 raids, arresting 19,316 suspects and seizing large quantities of various drugs.
IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has instructed Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) to enhance intelligence-based operations, particularly targeting online drug sales and areas near educational institutions. He emphasized the need for comprehensive search operations and the importance of community engagement in the drug awareness campaigns, involving parents, teachers, religious scholars, and civil society to bolster preventive measures.