Lahore: The Punjab Police, under the guidance of Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar, has ramped up its efforts to combat the drug menace across the province with a series of targeted operations. This push is part of the broader Drug-Free Punjab campaign, which aims to curb the trafficking and sale of illicit substances.

According to Punjab Police announcement issued on 07 September 2024, a recent surge in activities included 299 raids on drug dealers’ hideouts in a single day, resulting in the arrest of 116 individuals and the registration of 115 cases. Law enforcement officers seized 62 kilograms of charas, one kilogram of heroin, and 1,345 liters of liquor from the arrested suspects. Since the campaign’s intensification in February, police have carried out 20,342 raids, arresting 23,822 suspects and registering 23,247 cases. Officers have confiscated substantial quantities of drugs including over 15,000 kilograms of charas, 304 kilograms of heroin, 438 kilograms of opium, 111 kilograms of ice, and more than 1.774 million liters of liquor.

IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has ordered an acceleration of special operations against drug dealers and smugglers, with a focus on targeted actions against the trade and online supply of modern narcotics. He has also directed that daily search and combing operations be conducted around educational institutions and hostels to protect young people from drug exposure. Furthermore, Dr. Anwar emphasized the importance of bringing all individuals involved in the drug supply chain to justice, advocating for severe punishments to deter drug-related activities. He also called for an intensification of the anti-drug awareness campaign to educate the public on the dangers of drug use.