Lahore: The Punjab Police has significantly intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking across the province, aligning with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative for a Drug-Free Punjab. This rigorous enforcement campaign has been led by IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, focusing on the dismantling of drug networks.
According to Punjab Police, a special campaign conducted over the past six months has resulted in 38,751 raids on suspected drug hideouts, leading to the arrest of 18,554 individuals and the registration of 18,042 cases. The operations have resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit substances, including 11,000 kilograms of charas, 203 kilograms of heroin, 276 kilograms of opium, 58.5 kilograms of ice, and over 1.708 million liters of liquor.
Highlighting a recent surge in enforcement actions, a Punjab Police spokesperson detailed that just in one day, 225 raids were carried out, resulting in 104 arrests and the confiscation of 68 kilograms of charas, 3 kilograms of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of ice, and 1,320 liters of liquor.
IG Punjab has directed Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) to accelerate intelligence-based operations targeting drug traffickers and smugglers, with an additional focus on curbing online drug sales. Furthermore, he has mandated regular search and combing operations around educational institutions to prevent drug circulation in these critical areas.