Punjab Police launches aggressive crackdown on drug trafficking

LAHORE: In a robust effort to combat the prevalence of drugs and uphold the vision of a Drug-Free Punjab, the Punjab Police has initiated a rigorous crackdown across the province.

Over the past 24 hours, police teams have executed 307 raids on suspected hideouts of drug dealers, resulting in the registration of 140 cases and the apprehension of 144 individuals allegedly involved in drug-related activities.

During these operations, law enforcement officials seized significant quantities of illicit substances, including 54 kilogrammes of charas, 290 grammes of Ice, and 1,683 litres of alcohol from the possession of the apprehended suspects.

Highlighting the scale of the ongoing campaign, a senior officer of the Punjab Police revealed that since its inception on February 26, a total of 23,910 raids have been conducted across the province as part of this special initiative.

This concerted effort has led to the registration of 11,137 First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals implicated in the drug trade, with 11,860 suspects taken into custody.

The recovered contraband further underscores the magnitude of the challenge faced by law enforcement agencies, with seizures including 7,290 kilogrammes of charas, 120 kilogrammes of heroin, 250 kilogrammes of opium, 37 kilogrammes and 290 grammes of Ice, along with 142,549 liters of alcohol.

Dr Usman Anwar, Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police, stressed the imperative of accelerating intelligence-based targeted operations against drug dealers. He underscored that those who facilitate the distribution of drugs, particularly to the youth, deserve no leniency.

Dr Anwar reiterated the commitment to ensure that all individuals involved in the supply chain of this societal menace are brought to justice and face severe consequences for their actions.

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