Lahore: In a determined effort to eliminate drug trafficking in the region, Punjab Police has significantly ramped up its operations across the province, arresting thousands and seizing large quantities of narcotics following the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to foster a drug-free Punjab.
According to Punjab Police, the intensified crackdown is a key part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s initiative for a Drug-Free Punjab. Under the supervision of IG Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, targeted operations have been expanded, focusing on major cities and surrounding areas. The spokesperson for the Punjab Police reported that, on a single day, 292 raids targeted drug dealers’ hideouts, resulting in 121 arrests and 117 newly registered cases. Confiscated in these raids were 65 kilograms of charas, 6 kilograms of heroin, and 1,414 liters of alcohol.
Since the beginning of the operation on February 26, Punjab Police’s efforts have intensified, leading to 47,568 raids and the arrest of 22,661 individuals involved in the narcotics trade. The police have also registered 22,095 cases during this period. The total seizures include 14,305 kilograms of charas, 281 kilograms of heroin, 413 kilograms of opium, 103 kilograms of ice, and over 1.75 million liters of alcohol.
IG Punjab has issued orders to further speed up the operations, placing an emphasis on modern drug challenges such as online sales and distribution. He has also directed for daily search operations around educational institutions and hostels and stressed the importance of tackling inter-provincial and inter-district smuggling effectively.