Lahore: As part of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative for a drug-free region, the Punjab Police have significantly stepped up anti-narcotics operations across the province. This rigorous campaign aims to dismantle the drug trade and support community rehabilitation efforts.
According to Punjab Police, under the leadership of IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, the police have executed a staggering 84,195 raids on narcotics dens this year alone, resulting in 46,810 arrests and the filing of 46,407 cases. The extensive seizures included 33,382 kilograms of charas, 791 kilograms of heroin, 1,550 kilograms of opium, 365 kilograms of crystal meth (ice), and over 768,000 liters of liquor. Additionally, in a significant push towards recovery, 1,245 drug-dependent individuals were placed into rehabilitation programs. Focused operations in the provincial capital accounted for the arrest of 7,925 suspects from 7,684 raids, uncovering substantial quantities of narcotics.
IG Punjab has called for an increase in special operations and stressed the necessity for more intelligence-based efforts targeting modern drug trafficking avenues such as online networks and smuggling routes. He directed law enforcement to intensify surveillance and raids near educational institutions and to ensure that all involved in the narcotics supply chain face stringent legal consequences.