Drug edict

Jupinderjit Singh, Ruchika M Khanna

& Vijay Mohan

The Punjab government claims its 50-day-long crackdown against drug abuse is leading to record drug seizures and arrests, yet doubts persist whether such efforts will yield lasting results in the fight against addiction.

Daily arrests have surged from an average of 35 to 65-70 during the crackdown. Experts, however, caution against viewing these campaigns as standalone solutions. “These are small battles, but the fight against drugs is a constant war,” says a senior police official.

It is estimated that between 7.5 lakh and 10 lakh people in the state are addicted to heroin. According to conservative estimates, Punjab’s daily heroin consumption stands at 93.75 kg, translating into a staggering 34, 218 kg annually. To put this into perspective, the state’s highest heroin recovery to date — 1,161 kg in 2023 — matches just 13 days of consumption. This stark contrast highlights the scale of smuggling and the challenges faced by the law enforcement machinery.

The economic implications are equally humongous. With heroin costing Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per 1/8th gram dose (based on quality), the daily spending of addicts in the state ranges from Rs 40 crore to Rs 120 crore, averaging Rs 60-70 crore. Comparatively, a 2016 survey estimated the daily drug spending at Rs 20 crore, showing a drastic increase in addiction-related expenditure over the years.

Drug addiction imposes a heavy burden on families and society. A 2019 study by economists Dr RS Ghuman, Dr Gurinder Kaur, and Dr Jatinder Singh revealed costs ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 per addict daily, with heroin addicts incurring the highest expenses. Beyond financial strain, addiction disrupts family harmony, causing mistrust, violence and social isolation. Nearly 72.53 per cent of addicts’ households reported a loss of social image, while 27.47 per cent faced social exclusion.

Health repercussions are equally grave. Addiction leads to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. Emotional distress, frequent family quarrels and broken marital relationships add to the toll on families. The impact on children’s education and well-being further underscores the widespread consequences of addiction.

Addiction-related premature deaths, particularly among individuals aged 15-25, pose a significant loss to families and society. Many addicts also engage in anti-social activities such as violence, theft and drug peddling, perpetuating the cycle of crime and addiction.

State response

Intensified efforts have resulted in increased footfall at the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics, with 20,000 new and returning addicts seeking help. However, the success rate remains dismally low. Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Sidhu, during a debate on drugs in the Punjab Assembly in March 2023, said only about 2 per cent of the addicts could be cured.

As per the latest crackdown, in the first quarter of 2025, the Border Security Force (BSF) neutralised 55 drones and seized 62 kg of narcotics, predominantly heroin, along Punjab’s International Border. These recoveries are in addition to seizures by the police in other parts of the state.

Drone incursions, mainly originating from Pakistan, have become the preferred mode of smuggling, with advanced technology enabling precision drop-offs away from patrols and check-posts. BSF officers have devised innovative methods to detect and neutralise drones, employing visual and audio observation devices alongside limited anti-drone systems. Despite their efforts, smuggling persists along the vulnerable stretches of Punjab’s 553-km border with Pakistan, particularly in riverine areas.

Acknowledging the gravity of the crisis, Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party government has launched the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and send a strong message to smugglers through the “bulldozer model” of demolishing properties linked to illicit drug trade.

The state currently has 36 government-run de-addiction centres, 19 rehabilitation centres, and 529 OOAT clinics, alongside 177 private de-addiction and 72 private rehab centres. Plans to hire additional psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as open women-specific de-addiction centres, are underway. However, the nexus between private de-addiction centres and drug manufacturers remains unbroken, with allegations of illegal buprenorphine sales in the black market surfacing recently.

While the ongoing crackdown and government initiatives signal hope, systemic issues such as the police-politician-smuggler nexus and the lack of effective rehabilitation frameworks remain a cause for concern. Police and health officials warn that though a complete cut in the supply chain is not possible, but even if that is achieved, it can have disastrous results unless enough hospitalisation and medical treatment facilities are available. With the recent government crackdown on drugs, the footfall at OOAT centres has increased by 20,000 people, according to officials in the Health Department. The figure includes new users and those who had previously dropped out of de-addiction programmes.

During the earlier crackdowns, a surge was reported in the deaths of drugs addicts. In 2018, about 100 deaths took place, followed by a similar surge in 2022 and 2024.

Often, when they are in a panic mode, addicts overdose or peddlers start selling adulterated drugs, leading to fatalities, say officials.

The Siege Within

The Punjab Police’s efforts to dismantle drug smuggling networks have achieved significant milestones, yet challenges within the department cast a shadow on the campaign.

Since mid-2022, over 14,000 individuals have been arrested, with more than 2,000 classified as big fish within the drug syndicates. These arrests have led to the seizure of substantial quantities of heroin, opium and pharmaceutical drugs — a testament to the scale of the problem and the resilience of the law enforcement agencies.

However, while the Punjab Police battle smuggling rings, the fight within ranks presents a tougher challenge. Assistant Inspector General Raj Jit Singh, who was dismissed for alleged links with smugglers and operating extortion rackets, is a glaring example of this internal crisis. Declared a proclaimed offender, Raj Jit continues to evade arrest, exposing the difficulty in holding senior officials accountable.

The case of Amandeep Kaur, infamously known as the ‘Insta-Queen’, further illustrates this issue. A police Constable arrested with heroin in her possession, Kaur’s flamboyant lifestyle — including luxury properties and expensive accessories — raises questions about her connections with smugglers and senior officers within the department. While her social media presence gained public attention, the allegations of her nexus with drug racketeers and high-ranking police officials warrant a thorough investigation.

Alarmingly, instances of police involvement in drug smuggling abound. DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu’s alleged role in coordinating interviews for gangsters and suspected links with narcotics networks is one such example. Similarly, Inderjit Singh, a dismissed officer implicated alongside Raj Jit Singh, paints a grim picture of corruption. In fact, since 2014, a staggering 53 Punjab Police officers have been arrested for drug-related offences.

Punjab