Five Months of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’: Over 24,000 Drug Smugglers Arrested, 1000 Kg Heroin Seized in Punjab

Chandigarh, August 1, 2025 — In a major breakthrough in Punjab’s fight against narcotics, the state police under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s flagship campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh have arrested 24,089 drug smugglers and registered 15,242 FIRs since March 1, 2025. Over five months, the state’s multi-pronged crackdown has led to the seizure of 1000 kilograms of heroin, marking one of the most aggressive anti-drug operations in the state’s history.

According to the Punjab Police, operations are being carried out daily in all 28 police districts under the direct supervision of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. The campaign, personally monitored by Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, has also resulted in the confiscation of 344 kg opium, 204 quintals of poppy husk, 14 kg of charas, 367 kg of ganja, 6 kg of ICE, over 31.27 lakh intoxicant tablets and pills, and drug money amounting to ₹12.12 crore.

On the 153rd day of the campaign alone, 92 drug smugglers were arrested with a haul that included 1.7 kg heroin, 2 kg ganja, 404 kg poppy husk, 4865 intoxicant pills, and ₹2,490 in drug proceeds. The day’s operations involved more than 1100 police personnel from over 180 teams led by 76 gazetted officers. These teams conducted raids at 378 different locations and checked 407 suspicious individuals across Punjab.

The crackdown follows CM Mann’s directive to all senior law enforcement and administrative officers, including Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police, to intensify efforts to eliminate drug abuse and trafficking from Punjab. The state government has also formed a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to regularly monitor and evaluate the campaign’s progress.

Beyond enforcement, the government has adopted a three-pronged strategy comprising Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP). Under the de-addiction component, police have convinced 59 drug users to voluntarily undergo rehabilitation and treatment.

The massive scale and intensity of Yudh Nashian Virudh have drawn public attention and state-wide participation, reflecting a renewed commitment to breaking the nexus of drug smuggling and ensuring a drug-free future for Punjab.