71 drug smugglers nabbed, 1.5 kg heroin seized: Police

On the 36th day of the “war against drugs”, the Punjab Police on Saturday arrested 71 drug smugglers and seized 1.5 kg heroin, 500 gm opium, and Rs 6,020 drug money. With this, the total number of drug smugglers arrested has reached 4,990 in 36 days.

Giving details in Chandigarh, Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said over 200 police teams, comprising over 1,200 personnel under the supervision of 83 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 429 locations across the state, leading to the registration of 48 FIRs. Police teams also checked 460 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

In Patiala, Health Minister Balbir Singh, a member of the Cabinet sub-committee formed to monitor the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, said de-addiction centres across the state were increasing their counselling staff. Training was also being provided to medical professionals to ensure quality care for those undergoing treatment.

He claimed that ever since the launch of the campaign on March 1, the police had registered 2,954 FIRs against drug traffickers, demolished 55 illegally constructed properties, and seized 196 kg heroin, 55 kg charas and ganja, besides confiscating Rs 5.93 crore in drug money.

Speaking at a press conference at the Circuit House in Patiala, Balbir Singh emphasised that the government’s approach went beyond enforcement, with equal focus on treatment and rehabilitation.

He reported a sharp increase in individuals seeking help for substance abuse, particularly at the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics, where the number of patients receiving medication had doubled since the campaign began. The surge, he said, reflected growing public trust in the system and the campaign’s impact.

The minister said he would meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda to advocate for stricter regulations on the online sale of drugs, including e-cigarettes and other intoxicating substances.

Punjab