Lahore: Under the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab has launched a stringent crackdown on narcotics as part of the “Drug-Free Punjab” initiative. Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem is overseeing operations targeting drug dealers and smugglers throughout the province.

According to Punjab Police, the ongoing efforts have resulted in the arrest of 15,453 drug dealers this year, and 15,535 cases have been registered. The operations have led to the confiscation of substantial quantities of narcotics, including 8,434 kilograms of charas, 935 kilograms of heroin, 459 kilograms of ice, 488 kilograms of opium, and more than 219,000 liters of liquor.

In Lahore, the police have apprehended 1,852 drug dealers and registered 1,803 cases. Confiscations in the provincial capital have included 630 kilograms of charas, 68 kilograms of heroin, 157 kilograms of ice, 6 kilograms of opium, and 10,777 liters of liquor. IG Punjab Abdul Kareem has instructed that all individuals involved in the drug supply chain be prosecuted and receive stringent penalties. Additionally, operations around educational institutions and hostels will be intensified to curb drug activity, with further measures against online drug transactions.