Lahore: Under the directive of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision for a Drug-Free Punjab, Punjab Police have significantly ramped up efforts to combat drug trafficking throughout the province. This initiative, led by the Inspector General of Punjab Police, has focused on intelligence-based operations targeting drug dealers, particularly around Lahore.
According to Punjab Police, recent operations have seen a sharp increase in activity, with police conducting 256 raids in just one day across various hideouts in the province, resulting in the arrest of 114 suspects and the registration of 112 cases. The raids have led to the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs, including 119 kilograms of charas, 72 kilograms of opium, 4 kilograms of heroin, 1 kilogram of ice, and 967 liters of alcohol.
Since the commencement of this special campaign on February 26, the police have executed 44,881 raids, arresting 21,431 individuals involved in the illicit drug trade. These operations have netted 13,476 kilograms of charas, 246 kilograms of heroin, 398 kilograms of opium, 75 kilograms of ice, and over 1.739 million liters of alcohol.
IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has directed all Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) to further intensify these operations, with a specific focus on modern intoxicating substances. He underscored the importance of regular search and combing operations around educational institutions and hostels to curb drug circulation. Dr. Anwar also emphasized the necessity of bringing interprovincial and interdistrict drug smugglers to justice, ensuring they receive stringent penalties for their crimes.